Crisis looms at ‘The Hope newspaper as Ondo NUJ threatens showdown over Demotion of Workers, MD’s Obnoxious Policies
……Gives MD/Chairman ultimatum to rescind appointment of his Incompentent Friend as Editor, employment of Inexperienced Diploma holder Lady as News Editor.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council has threatened to shut down the state owned Owena Press PLC (The Hope newspapers) over some obnoxious policies of the new Chairman/Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the media outfit Mr Kayode Fasua.
In a ntoce of Intent to picket the office signed by the NUJ State Chairman, Prince Leke Adegbite and the State Secretary, Olaoluwa Meshack, Ondo NUJ said the Union can no longer take poor administrative skills of Fasua who was appointed 4months ago.
It was reliably gathered that in less than 3months, Mr Fasua had illegally employed his incompetent friend as Editor, engaged a lady who just finished Diploma as News Editor and recruited his daughter as the Accountant of The Hope newspaper without following due process.
It was further gathered that In the same breath, he demoted the organisation’s Editor, the Assistant Editor, the News Editor and redeployed others without no reason while Fasua has continued to threaten, harass and intimidate the workers especially News Department staff.
It was also learnt that the MD has within 24hours of receiving NUJ letter created an illegal union “Owena Press Staff Union” to justify his maladministration.
In the ‘NOTICE OF INTENT TO PICKET’ the media outfit dated 16th January, 2025, Ondo NUJ said “It has come to our knowledge the disturbing policies recently being implemented by your management at the Owena Press PLC (publisher of the Hope titles) and how they have been affecting our members adversely.
“Under the policies, our members are being subjected to work under serious emotional trauma and we therefore urge you to reverse these policies immediately to ensure that our members can work without undue stress.
“Specifically, the policies include; demotion of some management Staff, Emotional Harassment, work overload without incentive among other obnoxious policies.
“We demand that the policies especially recent demotion of the Editor and other editorial staff, be rescinded within the next 24 hours.
“Sir, failure to comply with these demand will leave us with no choice but to picket your office at the beginning of work (January 20, 2025). This action will be taken as a last resort to express our strong displeasure with the policies.
“We hope that you will take our demands seriously and take prompt action to address our concerns,” Ondo NUJ advised.
