A near pandemonium was averted Monday morning, January 18, as protesting staff of
Jimoh Ibrahim and some members of Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ,
gate crashed and disrupted the ongoing 5th Energy Group GMD Conference,
holding at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria.
The protesters, who stormed the hall while Ibrahim was taking on his
staff on a strategy lecture, launched into protest songs, demanding for
their 14-month salary arrears. For 15 minutes, the drama was beamed live
on AIT.
Appearing unfazed in spite of Ibrahim’s attempt to bully them by
calling for security operatives to move them out, the protesters
demanded that they would not bulge and the confab would not continue
unless Ibrahim or his representatives dialogue with them.
Speaking after the protesters have been convinced to have a meeting
with some of the Group executives, Ibrahim said he has no apologies
owing the staff because they failed to generate their income after he
had given them all the wherewithal, yet they expected him to get loans
to pay their salaries.
“I cannot borrow to pay their salaries. It is not sustainable,”
Ibrahim said. According to him, it’s only the media section of 16
companies in his conglomerate that has salary issue. However, the man
many see as ‘Corporate Bully’, said he’s ready to deal with the problem
from that moment.
In line with that, Ibrahim, shunned the rules of contract in
corporate governance and sacked Bolu Afolayan, the managing director of
Newswatch Media Ltd. He went on to appoint on the spot Mr. Demola
Abimboye as the new managing director.
Abimboye, a seasoned journalist and until now editor of Newswatch
Magazine, present at the conference, is expected to turn around the
fortune of both Newswatch Daily and the monthly magazine.
Culled from the News
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