Source: www.aproko247.com/?p=1119

Some members of staff of Nigeria’s first private broadcast station, Africa Independent Television, AIT, and Raypower FM, both owned by Daar Communications, manned by High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, are presently wining and dining with pain and anguish over unpaid salaries.

Aproko247 got from good authorities within the media house that most members of staff of the two stations don’t find life bearable anymore as they have grown pile of debts.

Impeccable sources divulged to Aproko247 that some of the staffs have turned to ‘executive beggars’. This has now forced them to send a ‘Save Our Soul’, SOS, letter to the chairman and Chief Executive of the company, Chief Dokpesi, to pay up their salary arrears, which we reliably learnt, dates back to 2009.

Aproko247 confirmed that some staffs are being owed 2009 November and December salaries by the organisation.

Interestingly, the company, as at Monday, March 4, 2013, paid the salary arrears of August 2012.

In an SOS retrieved by Aproko247, the “hungry Daar [Comms] staffs” appealed to Dokpesi to pay their salaries as “a hungry man is an angry lion.”

Calls and SMS to Tony Akiotu, the Group Managing Director, GMD, of Daar Communication by Aproko247 were not responded to as at press time.

Below is the SOS letter written to Dokpesi on the matter.

AN SOS LETTER FOR PAYMENT OF LONG OVERDUE SALARY ARREAS

We heartily congratulate you sir on the establishment of many stations within and outside the country. We also pray that those in pipeline would come to reality in Jesus name. More grease to you elbow.

Sir, we found it very necessary to write you personally as the Executive Chairman of Daar Communications plc who authorises employment, termination and disengagement of staff, to have a passionate concern on our plight to kindly approve immediate payment of our long overdue salaries which span between ten(10) to twelve months as the case maybe in Radio and TV services(staff) (i.e 2009 and 2012 salaries arrears).

Sir, we have absolutely become very bad and regular debtors as a result of none payment by your organisation (Daar Communications plc) to our landlords, school proprietors and hospital managements.

Some of our children now ask questions, “daddy why is your salary not paid every time”. Because they hear us tell their teachers.

Sir, some staff now also group themselves as AIT staff every term to plead for more time to pay school fees. Alas! This is not too good for staff of a growing company like yours.

Sir, after the recent organisational restructuring (retrenchment of staff without payments) of Dec 31st. 2012, staff have been expecting that at least August and September of 2012 salaries would be paid after Xmas and New Year expenses rather information has it that August 2012 Salary would not be paid until march 2013. And true to it February 2013 is almost running out and you didn’t see any reason to pay us any salary till now.

We want to plead that you kindly intervene with your good humanitarian gestures to avert this motive in the interest of our families, children school fees which we have signed an undertaken for. Even for us to concentrate on official job’ “hungry man is an angry lion”

A careful study in the organisation shows that many staff leave below poverty level except few who enjoys trip allowances, regular telephone plus free transport allowances and some who enjoys juicy political programmes presentation and early morning magazine presentation on AIT and Raypower FM etc.

We don’t envy them as fingers are not equal but we humbly request that our salaries be paid up to date at least for us to eat and live comfortably.

Social and economy life of many staff is zero. Due to poor staff welfare , when compare with friends and relatives elsewhere.

Sir, the Daar staffs therefore humbly request that our salaries arrears be paid in earnest.

Once again. We congratulate you, board and management and pray that God gives you the strength and ability to move the company to a greater height with prompt payment of our salaries.

Thank you.

Your hungry staff.

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Na wah o, so Daar com' sef na animal farm.

Na wa for oga Dokpesi o. No wonder AIT/Raypower Enugu have been off air since last year and most of their staff have left. smh