Once upon a time there was a television station to beat and cherish, everyone voted it the best in Africa and credited it for bringing a revolution in the Digital Broadcasting Industry. That TV station is African Independent Television (AIT), owned by High Chief Raymond Dokpesi’s Daar Communications Plc. However, our finding have revealed that the present conditions of all the radio and TV stations under Daar Communications Plc are in shambles as at the time of writing this exclusive report.
Going by, www.myemag.net exclusive investigation, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi who is seen as one of Nigeria’s billionaires may have lost his envious position in the billionaires club.
First it was a rumour, but with detailed evidence we can authoritatively report that that AIT/Raypower are seriously crumbling like the walls of Jericho with staffers owed arias of salaries running into months and others, years. Our inside source a staff of AIT who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity made it very clear that staffers of the station are owed 6months salary arias, while those of Raypower, 9months. According to her, “We have been subjected to a total maltreatment in the hands of Mr. Dokpesi, who has blatantly refused to pay us our salaries, but prides in flamboyancy. As I speak with you now, we at AIT have been owed for 6 months and those in Raypower, 9 months, there are some of us in this company who have not been paid since November 2009 salaries and management is not doing anything about it. We have sent out and SOS letter explaining the hard conditions we experience due to lack of funds and yet, we haven’t been given any listening ear, it’s disheartening”.
Meanwhile, as the case may be, www.myemag.net exclusively gathered that some Daar Communications’’ stations outside Lagos have shutdown due to lack of funds to fuel the power generators. Ondo ( Akure) have been off air shortly after the election as well as Enugu which managed to bounce back few weeks ago, Sierra Lon office of has crumbled with staffers also owed several months salaries.
Inside sources informed this news that Chief Dokpesi after spending a fortune on expensive cars, GOLD and women have gone so broke that he can’t possibly manage his establishments anymore. The source also stated categorically that ‘since the death of Ladi Lawal, the renouned late MD of Daar Communications Plc, AIT/Raypower has never been the same again in terms of good management.
www.myemag.net made efforts to speak to AIT’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Johnson Onime proved abortive as press time, as his phone line was repeatedly out of service.
Dokpesi, holds a doctorate degree in marine engineering from a Polish University. An Edo high chief and a political colossus, he started his working life in Nigeria as a personal assistant to a shipping magnate, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur now PDP national chairman, during his tenure as the General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority.
Alleged to have a high libido, he is also known as a chronic
womanizer, married to former Miss Moji Ogungbe and blessed with children,
Probably not satisfied with having Moji alone as wife, the high chief
subsequently took Tosin Odukoya, a velvet-voiced reporter, announcer and
presenter with both Ray Power and AIT, who later rose through the ranks to
become head of programs, among the bevy of pretty ladies, who are the pride and
trademark of his Communications outfit as his second wife.For the records, below is the unedited copy of an SOS letter sent to Dopesi by his staffers…
Subject: AN S.O.S LETTER FOR PAYMENT OF LONG OVERDUE SALARY ARREAS
We heartly congratulate you sir, on the establishment of many stations within and outside the country.
We also pray that those in pipeline would come to reality in Jesus name . More grease to you elbow.
Sir, we found it very necessary to write you personally as the executive chairman of Daar communications plc. Who authorises employment, termination and disengagement of staff, to have a passionate concern on our Plight to kindly approve immediate payment of our long overdue salaries which span between ten(10) to twelve months as the case maybe in Radio and TV services(staff)(i.e 2009 and 2012 salaries arrears).
Sir, We have absolutely become very bad and regular debtors as a result of none payment by your organisation (Daar communication plc). To our landlords, school proprietors and hospital managements. Some of our children now ask questions. ’Daddy why is your salary not paid everytime”. Because they hear us tell their teachers.
Sir, some staff now also group themselves as AIT staff every term to plead for more time to pay school fees.
Alas! This is not too good for staff of a Growing company like yours.
Sir, after the recent Organisational Restructuring (Retrenchment of Staff without Payments) of Dec 31st. 2012, staff have been expecting that at least August and September of 2012. salaries would be paid after xmas and New year expenses rather information has it that August 2012 Salary would not be paid until march 2013. And true to it February 2013 is almost running out and you didn’t see any reason to pay us any salary till now
We want to Plead that you kindly intervene with your Good humanitarian gestures to avert this motive in the interest of our families, children school fees which we have signed an undertaken for. Even for us to concentrate on official job’ “hungry man is an angry lion”
A careful study in the Organisation shows that many staff leave below poverty level except few who enjoys trip allowances, Regular telephone plus free transport allowances and some who enjoys juicy political programmes presentation and early morning magazine presentation on AIT and Raypower FM etc
We don’t envy them as fingers are not equal but we humbly request that our salaries be paid up to date at least for us to eat and live comfortably.
Social and economic life of many staff is zero. Due to poor staff welfare, when compare with friends and relatives elsewhere.
Sir. The Daar staff therefore humbly request that our salaries arrears be paid in Earnest
Once again. We congratulate you, board and management and pray that GOD gives you the strength and ability to move the company to a greater height with prompt payment of Our salaries..
Thank You.
Yours hungry staff
Email us : hungrydaarstaff@yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment