How I wish the adage “robbing Peter to pay Paul” could, instead, be lexicalized specially, to become “delaying Paul’s benefit to pay Peter”. The pathetic ill-health of our colleague – Peter Nosakhare, a journalist who is awaiting payment of his benefit, after serving the New Nigerian Newspapers, is worrisome. He recently collapsed on his way to the Kaduna NUJ Press Centre on a routine visit and now critically ill, deserving attention.
He has been hospitalized at the Barau Dikko Specialists Hospital in Kaduna, courtesy of colleagues who have been coughing out something as contribution to save a starving and unkept colleague.
Reports have it that Peter who had, for some time, been going to bed on empty stomach has been silently starving. He, alongside various other colleagues, had diligently served the NNN but their benefits still remain unpaid despite sourcing for the funds for the purpose through sales of various properties of the company as directed by the owners, including the tallest building in Kaduna – Nagwamatse House.
Peter’s case, compared to the 106 others who have passed on, though pathetic, is mild for he is alive. Peter and his ilks who have been starving in silence for sometime without any succour yet in sight, have abandoned journalism out of frustration. Collapsing while walking on the street embodies some chacteristics of starvation.
A recent statement by the joint workers of the NNN appealing to the 19 Northern States Governors to salvage the starving ex-workers, stated that about 106 of NNN ex-workers have passed away while waiting for the oblivious benefits, accrued via accumulated unpaid salaries, gratuities, unremitted deductions, payment in lieu of notice, among others.
The statement, however, extolled the virtues of the incumbent Kaduna SSG who had done all within his jurisdiction as head of the NSGF Secretariat to the point of awaiting final approval of the 19 NSG Forum which is the current stage at the moment.
There’s no any hint as to how soon the 19 NSG would meet following the appeal by the joint Union’s of the NNN but it is hoped that this week shall be the end of the waiting game, considering the continued frustration Insha Allah. Get well soon, Peter because hospital bed isn’t your portion!
