Staff of the Atiku Abubakar-owned TV and radio station, GOTEL Communications, have lamented the non-payment of their salaries since September.

Gotel is the largest media organisation in Mr Abubakar’s group of companies.

It operates television, radio, and other multimedia platforms, covering largely the northern parts of the country

Mr Abubakar is considered the second-highest employer of labour in Adamawa after the state government.

Apart from Gotel Communications and Adama Beverage, the former vice president also owns the American University of Nigeria and Rico Gado feed mill factory.

Prior to September, the workers groaned under hardship after three months (July, August and September) of non-payment of salaries.

Gotel Communications, which is the only private radio and television station in north-east Nigeria, retrenched about 50 per cent of its staff at the peak of Nigeria’s economic recession in 2016.

Some members of staff who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday said since the first rationalisation in 2016, no new condition of service was introduced at the station.

They said the station is yet to be restructured, the reason the Gotel Restructuring Committee gave for laying off staff in 2016.

“Staff are in limbo as to what condition of service is applicable. Are they going to rely on the old one or what? The staff that were retained (after the rationalisation) were not paid their entitlements) to date.

“There has not been a single promotion since the establishment of the organisation. The majority of the workforce had no single promotion since they accepted an appointment with the organisation. No, career development courses for operational staff, etc. Of all Atiku’s businesses, Gotel Communications Limited is the only one passing through such difficulty,” said the sources who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation.

They also said the current pattern of salary payment is not palatable to staff.

“You don’t know when the next salary will come, hence, staff cannot plan. Staff of Gotel Communications Limited are being owed October, November, and December salaries,” they said.

“The founder of Gotel Communications Limited, Alh Atiku Abubakar, has done his best for the station, as the station has been single-handedly financed by him 100 per cent. However, the latest developments cannot be determined by the staff of the organisation. Is the station winding down? The staff need to know their fate.”

A top management staff told this newspaper on Monday that the payment of two months’ salary arrears were made (on Friday), while the other months will be made in January.

But the workers discountenanced his claims, saying they were yet to receive their salaries as at press time Monday afternoon.

Paul Ibe, the Media Adviser to Mr Abubakar, told this newspaper that he could not comment on the issue because he is no longer on the board of Gotel.

Meanwhile, repeated calls and messages to the MD of Gotel Communications Limited, Mohammed Elyakub, were unanswered.

jahsharon:
Out of all the companies that Atikuchukwu Abubakar is said to own, please go and check how many of them were established before he became the Vice President. Less than 5%. Useless thief. Now, no free federal government money, no salary to pay workers. Ogun kill Atikuchukwu wherever the bisexual is.

Gotel Communications, which is the only private radio and television station in north-east Nigeria

CaptainMeks:
[s]This is how Atiku would have been getting Nigeria working tiredlessly.

Once Again, i want to thank the patriotic Nigerians that made sure a fraud is not the one holding key to our national resources and power. Same Atiku recently gifted Senator Ningi a Toyota Landcruiser SUV is the same Atiku refusing to pay workers their wages whilst gifting his pals choice vehicles fits into his creed..Keep friends happy. Destitute workers. Same pattern played out in All Govt enterprises he privatised..[/s]

CaptainMeks:
This is how Atiku would have been getting Nigeria working tiredlessly.

Once Again, i want to thank the patriotic Nigerians that made sure a fraud is not the one holding key to our national resources and power. Same Atiku recently gifted Senator Ningi a Toyota Landcruiser SUV is the same Atiku refusing to pay workers their wages whilst gifting his pals choice vehicles fits into his creed..Keep friends happy. Destitute workers. Same pattern played out in All Govt enterprises he privatised..

ghettokid1:
Another apc sponsored clown

Esseite:


Seriously?..

CaptainMeks:

[s]So Apc sponsored premium times
Your headache is uniquely wicked

CaptainMeks:


[s]Yes na. He privatized his own media house and still struggles to pay his workers salaries. Same way he privatized so many of Nigerias assets and bankrupted them. The guy is a fraud

GamalNasser:


Should he pay them from his pocket ? Nigerian workers must learn to put in the work to raise revenue for the organizations they work so they can be paid ..there is no more intels to be paying them free salary

budaatum:
We elected his grubby fingers away from Nigerias wealth and now he has no loot left to pay his workers.

What a pity!

budaatum:
We elected his grubby fingers away from Nigerias wealth and now he has no loot left to pay his workers.

What a pity!

ghettokid1:
[s][/s]
if only your father have 1/200 of his money, you would'nt be here spewing trash

GamalNasser:


Should he pay them from his pocket ? Nigerian workers must learn to put in the work to raise revenue for the organizations they work so they can be paid ..there is no more intels to be paying them free salary

CaptainMeks:
This is how Atiku would have been getting Nigeria working tiredlessly.

Once Again, i want to thank the patriotic Nigerians that made sure a fraud is not the one holding key to our national resources and power. Same Atiku recently gifted Senator Ningi a Toyota Landcruiser SUV is the same Atiku refusing to pay workers their wages whilst gifting his pals choice vehicles fits into his creed..Keep friends happy. Destitute workers. Same pattern played out in All Govt enterprises he privatised..

budaatum:

How can my father have 1/200 of his money when my father is not a looter?

WonderManly:
Wetin concern me self...

Simplyleo:

So in this case, it is the workers' fault, not the CEO with vision and good entrepreneurial skill capable of getting Nigeria working

budaatum:

I join you in thanking "the patriotic Nigerians that made sure a fraud is not the one holding key to our national resources and power".

Because of them, I have hope for Nigeria my country.

ghettokid1:
[s][/s]
how can he, when poverty is swallowing you & him?

ghettokid1:

wetin you come do here if nothing concern you?