It’s become concerning how Nigerian media managers are removed without following the laid down rules and regulations. Change must adhere to a set process insofar as it is constant; how much more of the workplace, where we understand that every beginning must have an end. Unfortunately, most media companies lack a “hand book” that would outline the norms of engagement and disengagement. Instead, these are typically stored in the memory of the managing director or board of directors, if they are present at all.
The adjustments that The Punch management revealed a few days ago are the reason for this article. On Friday, June 21, 2024, Friday Olokor, an ex-staff of the company posted on his facebook page. It reads: “Breaking: Tension in PUNCH, mgt asks Daily, Weekend Editors, Deputy to resign! TUNJI ABIOYE, SAMSON FOLARIN step in”. This source was cited by the majority of internet ‘newspapers’, and the news quickly went viral. The management thereafter released a statement on Saturday, June 22, 2024, regarding the information that Olokor had provided on Friday night. It now became glaring that the time for some workers has clearly come to an end. On Monday, July 22, 2024, however, the impacted employees are expected to pass over to their successors.
Prior to this time, the impacted employees would have been transferred to the editorial board. They would have been referred to as associate editors, managing editors, or editors at large in various media outlets! These titles are comparable to retirement locations. This mindset is shared by almost all Nigerian media companies; they take great pleasure in making their once-loved employees feel uncomfortable mentally.
But on Sunday, June 23, 2024, a day after The Punch management released a report on the occurrence, Premium Times, a frontline online newspaper published a very detailed report based on the “insider sources” who wished to remain anonymous. In a shake-up that targeted high-level employees of the top independent media organisation in Nigeria, Punch Nigeria Limited, the publisher of PUNCH online and newspaper titles, announced the removal of its two title editors, their deputies, and key managers, according to Premium Times.
According to information acquired by Premium Times, the Controller of Finance, the General Manager of Corporate Services, and the Chief Accountant were among the other employees of the company to get similar instructions. On Friday, the editors of PUNCH Weekend Titles and the daily publication The PUNCH were requested to step down. The impacted top administrative and financial executives were required to provide a three-month departure notice, whereas the affected editors were asked to provide a one-month notice in their resignation letters.
About a year before the impacted employees’ retirement age or term ends, they were obliged to resign. According to the dates of their appointments, the two title editors who were each given a three-year renewable term in March 2022 were anticipated to leave office early in 2025. The media outfit recognised “their positive contributions to the company’s strategic objectives” in a publication it made on its website announcing the reorganisation of the editorial division’s leadership, thus it did not record any offences against the impacted editors to reduce their tenure.
This news item was not covered by any of the mainstream media. Without delving further, the majority of internet publications mentioned a shift at The Punch. If a director general in any government agency had been removed in this manner, print and digital media would have been ablaze with stories about how the government removed a tenured officer who had not been found guilty of any crimes. Different kinds of news items, columns, editorials, and features would have surfaced on the newspapers’ pages.
The obvious is being stated here. Although, attitude of some media managers are nothing to write home about because few of them out there make assumptions, offer counsel as though they are experts in the field. One will be astounded by their performance level whenever they are given the chance since they will only utilise their newfound power to increase their wealth. Their “criticism” is really a desperate attempt to save their stomachs. All they want is to be acknowledged for their appointment, and once they have it, you won’t get them calling out even the smallest infraction in any department of the business.
It is well known that the Punch has adhered to this kind of tradition “consistently.” Since it is ingrained in the management concept, it is not a novel policy. Nothing in this life is supposed to endure forever, every position is a privilege and a passing phase. The new ones will have their time, just as the disengaged ones had theirs.
In general, an employer is free to fire an employee under any pretext; however, as a result of a recent ruling by the Nigerian National Industrial Court, an employer is required to give notice of the basis for the termination. To put it another way, media companies are free to “hire & fire,” but they must do it in accordance with any guidelines or policies that may have been made explicit in the “hand book” or letter of contract.
Finally, the top hierarchy of the media industry shouldn’t portray working in the media as a thankless job because a number of staff disengagements have resulted in really embarrassing situations and humiliation.
