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Journalists move to tackle APC over alleged N25m advert debt

By Adamu Abuh, Abuja
18 August 2017   |   4:11 am
Journalists assigned to cover the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are to, next week, protest against the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee...

APC

Journalists assigned to cover the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are to, next week, protest against the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party over alleged non-payment of N25 million worth of advertisements in the last two years.

The Guardian is, particularly, owed N619,500 for a congratulatory message put up to celebrate the 58th birthday of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on March 8, 2015.

The other affected media outfits include Thisday, Punch, Daily Trust, Blueprint, Nation, Sun, Vanguard and Leadership.

One of the aggrieved reporters, who pleaded anonymity, claimed that his salary had been withheld for the past six months due to the development.

He said: “ I can’t no longer pay my children’s school fees and feed my family because the party refused to clear the three pages of advert placed to either congratulate their leaders on their birthdays or the other. This is unfortunate.

“ I can’t believe that a party that promised to change the old ways of doing things would do this to my family. How will my paper survive and sustain its staff if the situation persists. Is this the party’s own idea of generating jobs for Nigerians?”

A breakdown of the debt shows that the Nation, Leadership, Sun, Blueprint, Vanguard and Daily Trust newspapers are most affected.

Consequently, the aggrieved reporters have concluded arrangement to invite local and international media organisations to cover the planned protest where they intend brandishing placards to press home their demand.

The party recently generated over N60 million from the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms to the 12 aspirants jostling for its ticket to stand for the November 18, 2017 governorship election in Anambra State.

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