₦airaland Forum

An Abuja based Non Governmental Organisation, the Society for Rule of Law in Nigeria (SRLN), has raised concern over the treatment of workers, especially Editorial Staff of Sahara Reporters, like slaves, earning paltry sum of money per story published without employment letters.

The group, which accused the owner of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, of living large while underpaying his workers, added that editorial staff of Sowore's Sahara Reporters do not have any letter of employment stating their conditions of service and entitlements.

Rising from its meeting in Abuja on Sunday, the SRLN lamented in a statement by its Coordinator, Dr Chima Ubeku, that reporters who daily risk their lives to report stories for Sahara Reporters are paid peanuts while Sowore is paying over N200 million as school fees for one of his children per annum.

It said it was even more worrisome that Sowore, owner of the online media platform has been everywhere, agitating that policemen should not earn less than ₦500,000 per month. Meanwhile, his own editorial staff are not paid any salary.

The SRLN described as inhumane, a situation where those working for Sowore are not formally and properly employed and are being paid per story, without any fixed monthly remuneration.

It is sad that Sowore, who claimed to be a human rights activist is contravening the Labour Act, 2004, which is the principal legislation governing employment relation in Nigeria.

The SRLN called on the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) to intervene and save journalists working in Sahara Reporters from slavery they are being subjected to by Sowore.

Spotlight001:
An Abuja based Non Governmental Organisation, the Society for Rule of Law in Nigeria (SRLN), has raised concern over the treatment of workers, especially Editorial Staff of Sahara Reporters, like slaves, earning paltry sum of money per story published without employment letters.

The group, which accused the owner of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, of living large while underpaying his workers, added that editorial staff of Sowore's Sahara Reporters do not have any letter of employment stating their conditions of service and entitlements.

Rising from its meeting in Abuja on Sunday, the SRLN lamented in a statement by its Coordinator, Dr Chima Ubeku, that reporters who daily risk their lives to report stories for Sahara Reporters are paid peanuts while Sowore is paying over N200 million as school fees for one of his children per annum.

It said it was even more worrisome that Sowore, owner of the online media platform has been everywhere, agitating that policemen should not earn less than ₦500,000 per month. Meanwhile, his own editorial staff are not paid any salary.

The SRLN described as inhumane, a situation where those working for Sowore are not formally and properly employed and are being paid per story, without any fixed monthly remuneration.

It is sad that Sowore, who claimed to be a human rights activist is contravening the Labour Act, 2004, which is the principal legislation governing employment relation in Nigeria.

The SRLN called on the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) to intervene and save journalists working in Sahara Reporters from slavery they are being subjected to by Sowore.

wetin be this abeg??
always using the usual tactics of using igbo name to fight yoruba and yoruba name to fight igbo just to create confusion

Spotlight001:
An Abuja based Non Governmental Organisation, the Society for Rule of Law in Nigeria (SRLN), has raised concern over the treatment of workers, especially Editorial Staff of Sahara Reporters, like slaves, earning paltry sum of money per story published without employment letters.

The group, which accused the owner of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, of living large while underpaying his workers, added that editorial staff of Sowore's Sahara Reporters do not have any letter of employment stating their conditions of service and entitlements.

Rising from its meeting in Abuja on Sunday, the SRLN lamented in a statement by its Coordinator, Dr Chima Ubeku, that reporters who daily risk their lives to report stories for Sahara Reporters are paid peanuts while Sowore is paying over N200 million as school fees for one of his children per annum.

It said it was even more worrisome that Sowore, owner of the online media platform has been everywhere, agitating that policemen should not earn less than ₦500,000 per month. Meanwhile, his own editorial staff are not paid any salary.

The SRLN described as inhumane, a situation where those working for Sowore are not formally and properly employed and are being paid per story, without any fixed monthly remuneration.

It is sad that Sowore, who claimed to be a human rights activist is contravening the Labour Act, 2004, which is the principal legislation governing employment relation in Nigeria.

The SRLN called on the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) to intervene and save journalists working in Sahara Reporters from slavery they are being subjected to by Sowore.

Ti o ba fa gburu, gburu a fa e naa.

Those who live in the glass house need to be careful when throwing stones.

Copy - Sowore

Check very well - people who haven't built any reasonable thing in their lives are always the ones instigating revolution and countrywide destruction.

hegelian:
wetin be this abeg??
always using the usual tactics of using igbo name to fight yoruba and yoruba name to fight igbo just to create confusion

There is no confusion in the story. Leave the writer or speaker, look at the content:

Is it true that Sahara Reporters staff are working without employment letters, underpaid below minimum wage and condition of service is poor? The PAYE Tax off Sahara Reporters; is it being remitted appropriately? What about their pension, NHS and NHF? What about their group insurance cover?

hegelian:
wetin be this abeg??
always using the usual tactics of using igbo name to fight yoruba and yoruba name to fight igbo just to create confusion

Is that all you have to say from the content of the message? Una never really ready in this country. Someone is accused of not paying his staff, not giving them employment letter but that one no concern you, na the name of the person that made the allegation is your top priority. Make una dey play

CFB = Corruption Fighting Back.
Wike sponsored group everywhere, that does not exonerate the looters of RIVERS State common patrimony.

Validated:
CFB = Corruption Fighting Back.
Wike sponsored group everywhere, that does not exonerate the looters of RIVERS State common patrimony.

Now you want to make an accusation of Sahara Reporters about Wike!

How ridiculous can you be?

Why do the workers need one faceless group to speak for them?

Why have they not raised alarm over their poor salary since all these days? Why do they have to wait till Sowore is exposing Wike and his friends that they also have to arrange one faceless group to speak on their behalf?

Wallade:
There is no confusion in the story. Leave the writer or speaker, look at the content:

Is it true that Sahara Reporters staff are working without employment letters, underpaid below minimum wage and condition of service is poor? The PAYE Tax off Sahara Reporters; is it being remitted appropriately? What about their pension, NHS and NHF? What about their group insurance cover?

You suddenly care about workers!!
Just last week doctors went on strike in FCT over unpaid allowances and poor working condition
You and the paid zombies who wrote this piece of trash were nowhere to be found
I bet you'll even support the govt against those doctors but Sowore choosing freelance journalism is your problem
This is the reason why Nigerian politicians will never be serious with nation-building. They know there are useful idiots ready to defend them and attack those who speak up against their misdemeanours
The Mugu writer is not writing that Sowore stole govt money nor allocated public properties to himself o.
His problem is how Sowore hires his journalists
Hunger is truly bad

Kukutente23:
You suddenly care about workers!!
Just last week doctors went on strike in FCT over unpaid allowances and poor working condition
You and the paid zombies who wrote this piece of trash were nowhere to be found
I bet you'll even support the govt against those doctors but Sowore choosing freelance journalism is your problem
This is the reason why Nigerian politicians will never be serious with nation-building. They know there are useful idiots ready to defend them and attack those who speak up against their misdemeanours
The Mugu writer is not writing that Sowore stole govt money nor allocated public properties to himself o.
His problem is how Sowore hires his journalists
Hunger is truly bad

On the contrary, I don't support federal or state government who don't pay workers salary or engage workers in questionable working conditions.

We know there are clever fools who want to see the government and certain persons in the government ruined just to satisfy their wishes. Hence, they identify and support Sowore's charade.

If Sowore employs staff without paying them salary or benefits or issuing them offer letters or remitting their PAYE Taxes to the government. That is stealing and cheating the staff and government.

Why do you want to look away from that situation with Sahara Reporters and the staff?

See dem,awon smellos...

Sowore is now their source of constipation

Wallade:
On the contrary, I don't support federal or state government who don't pay workers salary or engage workers in questionable working conditions.

We know there are clever fools who want to see the government and certain persons in the government ruined just to satisfy their wishes. Hence, they identify and support Sowore's charade.

If Sowore employs staff without paying them salary or benefits or issuing them offer letters or remitting their PAYE Taxes to the government. That is stealing and cheating the staff and government.

Why do you want to look away from that situation with Sahara Reporters and the staff?

What of persons who stole money from the states they ruled? They owed workers, gave no promotions to those due, but they embezzle public funds.[code][/code]

Elusive001:
What of persons who stole money from the states they ruled? They owed workers, gave no promotions to those due, but they embezzle public funds.[code][/code]

Prosecute those persons in court if you have proof and solid case.

Wallade:
On the contrary, I don't support federal or state government who don't pay workers salary or engage workers in questionable working conditions.

We know there are clever fools who want to see the government and certain persons in the government ruined just to satisfy their wishes. Hence, they identify and support Sowore's charade.

If Sowore employs staff without paying them salary or benefits or issuing them offer letters or remitting their PAYE Taxes to the government. That is stealing and cheating the staff and government.

Why do you want to look away from that situation with Sahara Reporters and the staff?

But you support looters who loot instead of paying doctors
Or what do you mean by Eni to ba fa gburu, gburu a fa
Are you not joyously alluding to the red eye Sowore gave your political tin gods?
It's even funny you quickly believe a faceless group who have shown no shred of evidence to back up their claim simply because of the hate you have for Sowore for calling out looters of your future and destiny
Why don't you tell the faceless group to take Sowore to court if they have proof and solid case instead of swallowing their story head and tail like Wike's akamu

Wallade:
Ti o ba fa gburu, gburu a fa e naa.

Those who live in the glass house need to be careful when throwing stones.

Copy - Sowore

Wallade:

Prosecute those persons in court if you have proof and solid case.

Wallade:
On the contrary, I don't support federal or state government who don't pay workers salary or engage workers in questionable working conditions.

We know there are clever fools who want to see the government and certain persons in the government ruined just to satisfy their wishes. Hence, they identify and support Sowore's charade.

If Sowore employs staff without paying them salary or benefits or issuing them offer letters or remitting their PAYE Taxes to the government. That is stealing and cheating the staff and government.

Why do you want to look away from that situation with Sahara Reporters and the staff?

But you support looters who loot instead of paying doctors
Or what do you mean by the bolded below
Are you not joyously alluding to the red eye Sowore gave your political tin gods?
It's even funny you quickly believe a faceless group who have shown no shred of evidence to back up their claim simply because of the hate you have for Sowore for calling out looters of your future and destiny
Why don't you tell the faceless group to take Sowore to court if they have proof and solid case instead of swallowing their story head and tail like Wike's akamu

Wallade:
Ti o ba fa gburu, gburu a fa e naa.

Those who live in the glass house need to be careful when throwing stones.

Copy - Sowore

Wallade:

Prosecute those persons in court if you have proof and solid case.

It's understandable corruption will always fight back. We are waiting for Wike to take Sowore to court.

Kukutente23:
But you support looters who loot instead of paying doctors
Or what do you mean by the bolded below
Are you not joyously alluding to the red eye Sowore gave your political tin gods?
It's even funny you quickly believe a faceless group who have shown no shred of evidence to back up their claim simply because of the hate you have for Sowore for calling out looters of your future and destiny
Why don't you tell the faceless group to take Sowore to court if they have proof and solid case instead of swallowing their story head and tail like Wike's akamu

Sowore cheating Sahara Reporters staff and not remitting proper tax of PAYE and maybe Company Income Tax is simply fraudulent, corrupt and criminal.

Government officials who loot treasury and enrich themselves are also engaged in corruption and that is criminal too.

What is the difference between Sowore and Wike?
.
Is it not a case of kettle calling pot black?

The group doesn't even need to take Sowore to court. It is staff and state government or FCTIRS and or NRS(FIRS) that should take Sowore to court.

Sowore too should take Tinubu or Wike to court if he has cases and proofs against them. We don't need Sowore's show and drama of self righteousness when he is actually a criminal too.

Wallade:
Prosecute those persons in court if you have proof and solid case.

So why not take Sowore to court too?

Wallade:
Sowore cheating Sahara Reporters staff and not remitting proper tax of PAYE and maybe Company Income Tax is simply fraudulent, corrupt and criminal.

Government officials who loot treasury and enrich themselves are also engaged in corruption and that is criminal too.

What is the difference between Sowore and Wike?
.
Is it not a case of kettle calling pot black?

The group doesn't even need to take Sowore to court. It is staff and state government or FCTIRS and or NRS(FIRS) that should take Sowore to court.

Sowore too should take Tinubu or Wike to court if he has cases and proofs against them. We don't need Sowore's show and drama of self righteousness when he is actually a criminal too.

Point out where it is written in the obviously fake story that Sowore does not remit CIT and PAYE
Zombie work no easy at all. You must first off sense
Sowore has already written to the attorney of florida where Wike's crime was committed for action
So tell your FIRS to take Sowore to court
Besides, since the group have no stand in the matter, can you explain why you swallowed their story like Wike's akamu

Kukutente23:
Point out where it is written in the obviously fake story that Sowore does not remit CIT and PAYE
Zombie work no easy at all. You must first off sense
Sowore has already written to the attorney of florida where Wike's crime was committed for action
So tell your FIRS to take Sowore to court
Besides, since the group have no stand in the matter, can you explain why you swallowed their story like Wike's akamu

I hope you know that we are not all stupid on naira land.

If you have a staff that you didn't give an offer letter, there is no doubt that you are not remitting the PAYE deductions or how do you prove the deductions? If that is the case then I doubt your audited financial statements and I expect that NRS should also doubt and investigate your financial statements.

I can bet you have never worked in paid employment or had an offer letter from a reputable organization so you can't understand - it will not make sense to you because you can't comprehend it.

Sowore that knows to run his mouth on media can as well take it upon himself to sue Wike to court since he claims he has evidences now, the Attorney General of the federation doesn't have to do that for him.

I am too sure NRS and state government where the Sahara Reporters offices are located are following developments on Sahara Reporters as it concerns PAYE and CIT. An investigation may even be in play on covert level.

Elusive001:
So why not take Sowore to court too?

I don't have time and resources to waste on Sowore. I don't follow impostors like him. I am not his fan and can't be fooled by him.

If you want to form a righteous man, then be righteous indeed not to come on the media and insult, disrespectfully address people, especially in high or esteemed offices, blab all over and play politics of character assassination.

Wallade:
On the contrary, I don't support federal or state government who don't pay workers salary or engage workers in questionable working conditions.

We know there are clever fools who want to see the government and certain persons in the government ruined just to satisfy their wishes. Hence, they identify and support Sowore's charade.

If Sowore employs staff without paying them salary or benefits or issuing them offer letters or remitting their PAYE Taxes to the government. That is stealing and cheating the staff and government.

Why do you want to look away from that situation with Sahara Reporters and the staff?

Where is the evidence of this your ranting? Are you the voice behind this faceless group?

SisterAnn:
Where is the evidence of this your ranting? Are you the voice behind this faceless group?

The faceless group sounds like me abi. Are you Sowore?
Focus on the message and stop deflecting from it.

Wallade:
I hope you know that we are not all stupid on naira land.

If you have a staff that you didn't give an offer letter, there is no doubt that you are not remitting the PAYE deductions or how do you prove the deductions? If that is the case then I doubt your audited financial statements and I expect that NRS should also doubt and investigate your financial statements.

I can bet you have never worked in paid employment or had an offer letter from a reputable organization so you can't understand - it will not make sense to you because you can't comprehend it.

Sowore that knows to run his mouth on media can as well take it upon himself to sue Wike to court since he claims he has evidences now, the Attorney General of the federation doesn't have to do that for him.

I am too sure NRS and state government where the Sahara Reporters offices are located are following developments on Sahara Reporters as it concerns PAYE and CIT. An investigation may even be in play on covert level.

I can't vouch that not everyone on NL is not stupid. By their comments we shall know them.

For example. You're making some conjecture based on taxes and you're relying on innuendos and accusation from a faceless group while declaring yourself "too sure" that FIRS is covertly investigating SR.

If you had just done a little research, you'll have known that SR is not even registered as a business entity in Nigeria and is thus not even obligated to pay tax to Nigerian authorities.

Secondly, if you were really concerned about not looking stupid, you'll have enlightened yourself to the fact that freelancing is allowed in journalism. That's why you can see someone who is not a staff of a TV station hosting a show there. An example is Ebuka hosting rubbing minds on Channels TV while we know he's not a staff of Channels. I guess according to you and the faceless group, Channels is maltreating Ebuka by having him freelancing on their station. I hope you know how stupid that sounds. And SR officially promotes citizen journalism or freelancing. It's clearly written on their website.

Sowore has taken the right step by writing to the office with investigative and prosecutorial powers in Florida. Tell the clownish group to do the needful and report Sowore for tax evasion

Wallade:
The faceless group sounds like me abi. Are you Sowore?
Focus on the message and stop deflecting from it.

I should focus on a post from a faceless group who never tendered any shred of evidence to back up their claims? That one is exclusively reserved for you.

SisterAnn:
I should focus on a post from a faceless group who never tendered any shred of evidence to back up their claims? That one is exclusively reserved for you.

You, Sowore and Sahara Reporters are allowed to treat their claim as an allegation.

Just as every accusations Sowore, Sahara Reporters and others have made about Wike, Tinubu and others are mere allegations too.

The onus is on Sahara Reporters to debunk the claim officially and perhaps challenge the allegations in court, if get so much desire.

The labor practice in the media industry in Nigeria isn't strange to us. We know how they operate when it comes to labor employment.

Kukutente23:
I can't vouch that not everyone on NL is not stupid. By their comments we shall know them.

For example. You're making some conjecture based on taxes and you're relying on innuendos and accusation from a faceless group while declaring yourself "too sure" that FIRS is covertly investigating SR.

If you had just done a little research, you'll have known that SR is not even registered as a business entity in Nigeria and is thus not even obligated to pay tax to Nigerian authorities.

Secondly, if you were really concerned about not looking stupid, you'll have enlightened yourself to the fact that freelancing is allowed in journalism. That's why you can see someone who is not a staff of a TV station hosting a show there. An example is Ebuka hosting rubbing minds on Channels TV while we know he's not a staff of Channels. I guess according to you and the faceless group, Channels is maltreating Ebuka by having him freelancing on their station. I hope you know how stupid that sounds. And SR officially promotes citizen journalism or freelancing. It's clearly written on their website.

Sowore has taken the right step by writing to the office with investigative and prosecutorial powers in Florida. Tell the clownish group to do the needful and report Sowore for tax evasion

Sometimes, people exhibit and expose their lack of knowledge even when they want to prove they are better informed.

"Based in New York City, Sahara Reporters was founded in 2006 by Omoyele Sowore.[2][3] It employs staff members in Nigeria and the United States. The site's publication of leaked, often unfiltered information has disrupted Nigeria's traditional media scene.[4]

By basing his operation in New York, Sowore for years had a degree of protection from the consequences of publishing often scandalous information about Nigeria's most powerful people. He shuttled between his family home in New Jersey and Nigeria, where he is a citizen, without much interference.

After launching an open presence in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2017, Sahara Reporters has come under a series of attacks, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), among others. On December 10, 2019, Sahara Reporters staff told CPJ that their Nigerian bank account was frozen without advance notice in October. Their website was separately disabled twice due to allegations of copyright infringement, and staff report cyberattacks and increased surveillance outside their Lagos office, according to Sahara Reporters staff who spoke to CPJ."

In case you want to check, this is an extract from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahara_Reporters#:~:text=After%20launching%20an%20open%20presence,without%20advance%20notice%20in%20October.

Now let's discuss:

Does Sahara Reporters have a Nigerian office?

Answer - Yes.

Does Sahara Reporters operate in Nigeria?

Answer - Yes.

Does Sahara Reporters have staff operational in Nigeria?

Answer - Yes.

If you agree with the answers above. Then you should know that the staff of Sahara reporters PAYE tax must be remitted to the IRS of the states where they are resident.

If you agree with the answers above, then you should know that NRS(FIRS) has right to demand CIT, WHT and VAT remittances from Sahara Reporters for transactions and profit generated in Nigeria. Same applies to every online businesses and organizations, irrespective of whatever country where the corporate office was incorporated, that generates income(profit) from Nigeria business activities.

Mind you, I never referred to freelancers or guest journalist. I referred to staff, either casual or permanent, of Sahara Reporters who are employed in Nigeria.

Your lack of education on the operation and applicability of tax in Nigeria is the reason you are confused or cleverly trying to maneuver around Sahara Reporters tax obligations in Nigeria. Get some tax education please.

Wallade:
You, Sowore and Sahara Reporters are allowed to treat their claim as an allegation.

Just as every accusations Sowore, Sahara Reporters and others have made about Wike, Tinubu and others are mere allegations too.

The onus is on Sahara Reporters to debunk the claim officially and perhaps challenge the allegations in court, if get so much desire.

The labor practice in the media industry in Nigeria isn't strange to us. We know how they operate when it comes to labor employment.

Oga, sowore has receipts oo 😅

SisterAnn:
Oga, sowore has receipts oo 😅

Receipts of what? Please share?