A hall inside The Pioneer newspaper’s headquarters showing where the rotary press of Akwa Ibom State Newspaper Corporation was installed. (Photo was taken in May 2021).
By David David
A rotary printing machine procured by the Akwa Ibom state government for the printing of the state-owned newspaper, The Pioneer, has been reportedly stolen from the premises of the Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation, AKNC.
Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation, the publisher of The Pioneer newspaper, has its headquarters on Information drive, off IBB avenue, in Uyo, few meters away from the Akwa Ibom state secretariat of NUJ.
The heavy duty printing machine which was supplied by the Late Christy Essien Igbokwe, during the early days of the Chief Godswill Akpabio administration has been reportedly missing for about one year now.
Staff of the Corporation alleged that the multi-million Naira press was allegedly sold out and the proceeds pocketed by the Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr. Umoette Umoette.
“There was no briefing of the staff on the sales, no advertisement for auction. We came to work to notice that the machine was uninstalled and later carted away.
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“The machine is heavy so you can’t say it was carried and thrown out over the fence. So, the trucks used to take the printing machine must have passed through the gate, so it was authorised by the head of the Corporation”, a senior staff of the Corporation said.
Mr. Umoette Umoette, Managing Director, Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation. (Credit : Facebook)
It was learnt that metal containers that were in the premises of the Corporation have also been sold by the MD without the knowledge of management.
Also reported to have been stolen from the premises of the Corporation since Mr. Umoette assumed duty include two industrial generators and more than 10 drums of coal tar procured by the former General Manager, Lady Ekaette Ekpo, for the construction of internal roads in the Corporation.
Staffers at the newspaper house said Mr. Umoette has shown no concern about the minutest thing like repairing broken chairs and tables, or faulty fans or repaint offices.
It was learnt that work culture has deteriorated. Weekly editorial meetings which were integral part of the work culture of the company had since been ditched by the Umoette led management.
“Instead of improving the quality and content of the newspaper, the MD has resorted to increasing advertisement rates. We are not against increase of ads rate if advertisers have the money to pay but what is worrisome is that the money realised is not paid to the company. The MD bypasses the company’s accountant, works with the cashier and spend all monies through ads or those received as allocations without approval.
“Let me tell you that once advertorial money is paid to either the cashier, the advert manager, or the personal assistant to the MD, they take the money straight to Mr. Umoette who will give out part to them and keep the rest.
“If you want to know who the MD is, just call and tell him that you have advertorial for the newspaper, he will simply ask you to give the money to his Personal Assistant who will pay the cash into his account”, a staff alleged.
Mr. Umoette Umoette was appointed Managing Director of Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation, AKNC, in March 2017.
In his maiden meeting with staff of the Corporation on 29th March 2017, Mr. Umoette promised to ‘turn around the corporation for the good of everyone and for the betterment of the society.’
However, four years later, AKNC is almost comatose under Mr. Umoette’s watch.
Latrine inside the headquarters of Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation. (Credit : Crest Newspaper)
Our sources wondered why the corporation should be raising so much from advertisements yet many times staff are left stranded with news stories for weeks because there is no money for production.
Soon after Mr. Umoette assumed office as Managing Director, he sacked five casual staff without clearing their arrears of salary.
Temporary staff called ‘lineage reporters’ have been owed honourarium since 2015 and dozens of letter of claims written by the staff have been ignored.
One of the lineage staff said “no body really cares how we survive. The only thing we get is only N5,000 transport allowance every month. Our earned allowances have not been paid since 2015. We have applied severally to management for payment but to no avail.”
Staff of the Corporation said in the face of the waning work culture and toxic work environment, the MD has refused to create opportunity for staff to interface with him
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“I can’t remember the last time we had an editorial meeting. The last time we had editorial meeting, a staff frowned at the state of decay in the Corporation, after that meeting he was relieved of his role, now he is almost redundant.
“We barely see the MD because he sneaks in and out of the office on Monday morning when he knows that many staff would not be in office and that would be like twice a month.”
Our reporter who visited the Corporation headquarters on Information drive, Off IBB avenue, Uyo, said the premises was bushy and the latrine meant for the staff was unkempt.
When contacted to speak on the missing rotary press, Mr. Umoette, the MD of AKNC, said “you are free to free to verify the word ‘missing’.”
