MASS RESIGNATION HITS JIMOH IBRAHIM'S NEWSPAPERS

Jimoh Ibrahim

Reports from the newspapers stable of eminent businessman and Group Managing Director of Energy Group, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, has it that a wave of mass resignation has it the newspapers.
Ibrahim is the publisher of National Mirror and Newswatch Times, formerly Newswatch Daily
It was learnt that mostly affected are the Editorial Department and the Graphics Unit.
And most of the staff seem to be headed in the same direction for fresh appointments: the Daily Times titles, which will be back on the newsstand anytime from November 10.
It was gathered that the window of opportunity provided by Daily Times has offered the top editorial staff of the two newspapers in Ibrahim’s stable, especially Newswatch Times, the opportunity of demanding for their rights from the lawyer cum businessman.
This was more so following the change of name of the publication from Newswatch Daily to Newswatch Times.
The top management of Newswatch Times are said to have

demanded fresh appointment letters from Ibrahim as a first condition for remaining with the publication.
It was said to have taken Ibrahim’s personal intervention for the Friday edition of the newspaper to be on the newsstand as the Editors threatened not to produce it without fresh appointment letters and the payment of the backlog of their salaries and other emoluments.
Ibrahim, who was reported to have rushed down to the company’s office on Thursday night to avert the mini strike, was said to have promised to clear the arrears within one week.
He also said the issuance of fresh letters of appointment would be determined by the Managing Director, Moses Jolayemi.
And in the bid to avert any backlash from newspapers agents and vendors, Ibrahim had the new product sneaked into the market without publicity.
The fear was that the agents and vendors could demand for “fresh money as incentive before collecting the newspaper for sale”.
However, while the staff of the Editorial Department have been talking with Ibrahim, those of the Graphics Unit of both National Mirror and Newswatch Times are said to have resigned en mass to join Daily Times.
A senior editorial staff of one of the newspapers confirmed the development.
The editorial staff added: “We are also waiting to see how our publisher will react to our demands for the backlog of our salaries to be paid within the promised one week alongside other allowances and promises made to us before we came in, to decide which direction to head.
“Next week will definitely decide the fate of the two newspapers in terms of the staff that will be left in the group.”


Source:Eagle Online