Later today, Independent Newspapers Limited, publishers of Daily and Sunday Independent, will gather the cream-de-la-cream of the society to Eko Hotels and Suites for its annual award ceremony.
It is on record that for some years now, the newspapers owned by the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, has been in the fore front of media houses that are neck deep in organising the award ceremony for governors and other public functionaries for whatever reasons. Last year, sources said it held three awards, one for legislators at Abuja and the rest in Lagos.
But the fact remains that the paper is one of those struggling for survival in Nigeria as it is indebted to its staff both serving and ex despite the series of awards from, which it has raked in millions of naira in advert, donations and pledges.
It is hoped that after tonite’s ceremony, the paper would have made enough money both in donation from awardees like Allen Onyema, the owner of Air Peace and advert revenue from others to begin to settle it’s debt profile.
Giving awards to deserving citizens is not a crime but then when the staff of the media who put in their life to ensure the presence of such on the newsstand are dying in numbers through owed remunerations, is mind boggling and inhuman.
STEVE OMANUFEME, MD, INL
Let the various media organisations involved in this unwholesome practice allow their charity begins from home.
The media have always been in the vanguard of advocating for better living condition for active workers and payment of pensions to those retired.
It is an irreconcilable policy of such houses when their workers are using their blood to sustain it without adequate reward.
