Former employees of Compass Newspapers, published by Western Publishing have filled a suit against the former Governor of Ogun State and publisher of the newspaper, Otunba Gbenga Daniel over unpaid salaries and gratuity.
The journalists comprising Emmanuel Ukudolo, Victor Asowata, Azuka Nwokocha, Sebastine Eyinnna, Kolawole Ayodele, Hope Abel and Usoro Ndianobong filed the suit on Thursday at the Nigerian Industrial Court in Ikoyi, Lagos through their lawyer, Mr. Nkem Eke of Nkem Eke & Co Barristers and Solicitors.
The plaintiffs are pleading that the court should compel Gbenga Daniel to pay the workers all their emoluments running into several millions.
Speaking in behalf of the complainants, Ayodele said that the Daniel’s Western Publishing, owners of Nigerian Compass owned them salaries in excess of one year and deducted payee which it refused to remit to the Ogun State Government; deducted cooperative contribution from source which it refused to remit to the cooperative; deducted contributory pension which it refused to remit to Trust Fund, IBTC Pension and other pension administrators even when it refused to pay its own share of the contributory pension.
He added that by so doing the company denied them legitimate income, right to retirement income and deprived them of their right as tax complying workers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.