Kaduna, Nigeria
The Arewa Youths Movement for Good Governance (AYMGG) has accused the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) of “institutional wickedness” over its prolonged delay in disbursing the entitlements of former workers of the New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN), despite approvals by the Northern Governors Forum (NGF).
Rising from an expanded regional executive meeting in Kaduna on Tuesday, the Youth Group condemned NNDC’s failure to comply with directives issued by the NGF over 100 days ago, instructing the immediate payment of benefits to affected workers.
Speaking to journalists, AYMGG’s North-West Coordinator, Comrade Ibrahim Ahmadu, described the conduct of NNDC as “deliberate sabotage” and questioned its authority to override clear instructions from the Governors.
“We are reliably informed that the NGF Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Inuwa Yahaya, formally directed the transfer of funds to the management of New Nigerian Newspapers for onward payment to beneficiaries. However, rather than comply, NNDC circumvented this directive and sought approval to handle the payments directly,” Ahmadu said.
He noted that the subsidiary of NNDC Northern Capital Properties Limited (NCPL) had initially written to NNN requesting account details for the transfer.
But in a twist, NNDC reportedly initiated a fresh screening process that lasted two months and resulted in partial payments to just 177 staff, leaving over 200 workers unpaid.
“The same NNDC also withheld statutory deductions, including union dues, in clear violation of financial transparency and workers’ rights,” Ahmadu alleged. “To date, 111 former NNN workers have died waiting for these entitlements. Is NNDC waiting for all of them to die?”
He called on the Northern Governors Forum to:
1. Immediately compel NNDC to release the full benefits to NNN management for prompt payment.
2. Establish a probe panel to investigate NNDC’s handling of the process.
3. Order the suspension of NNDC’s management and board pending the outcome of the probe.
AYMGG also threatened to mobilize protests across the North-West and North-East, particularly in Gombe State, if urgent action is not taken.
According to the group, the outstanding benefits for NNN workers before partial disbursement included:
Outstanding salaries: N1.47 billion
Gratuities: N661 million
Contract allowances: N7.5 million
Three months in lieu of notice: N21 million
Salaries for current staff: N87 million
Statutory deductions: N81.8 million
Suppliers’ bills: N37 million
Tax liabilities: N134 million
The total liabilities reportedly stood at N2.5 billion.
However, sources disclosed that NNDC, through its subsidiary NCPL, has already generated over N7 billion from the sale of NNN assets funds meant specifically for the payment of these benefits.
AYMGG’s statement adds to growing pressure on NNDC to account for the delay and ensure full compliance with the Northern Governors Forum’s directive.
