Nigerian On-Air Personality, Dotun ‘Do2dtun’ Kayode, has publicly criticized Soundcity, a popular media company, for allegedly failing to pay its staff salaries for the past eight months.
Dotun made this revelation through a series of tweets on X, where he expressed deep concern and empathy for his fellow OAPs enduring such financial strain. In one of his tweets, he wrote, “My friends and colleagues at Soundcity, how do you guys cope? No salary for 8 months? Mehn that’s crazy!!!!” His words captured the frustration of those affected and drew widespread attention to the issue.
In another tweet, Dotun harshly condemned the station, describing its actions as “cruel and inhumane.” He added, “It’s not by force to open a radio station. Owing your staff for 8 months is very cruel and inhumane. You don’t need a soothsayer to tell you this.”
Dotun’s comments reflect his disapproval of the management’s handling of the situation, as he called for greater accountability in the media industry. His stance sparked debates online about the ethical responsibilities of media companies toward their employees.
The criticism of Soundcity extended beyond Dotun, as RadioGuide NG, an online radio community, also accused Group8, the parent company of Soundcity, Urban96, and other affiliated stations, of failing to pay salaries.
In a statement, RadioGuide NG questioned the working conditions of employees in the company, asking, “How are you doing? Are you good? When last did you get paid? It’s essential to have these conversations.” The statement partly reads:
Group8’s got quite a reputation, and genuinely, we would like to know.. quite honestly, how those who work there are doing. Really, how are you doing? Are you good? When last did you get paid? It’s essential to have these conversations.
Why do we wait till it’s really bad, till when people are at their final oxygen bag before doing the right thing? Why do we allow this media shouts to go public before doing the right thing?!
Their statement underscored the need for open discussions on the welfare of media workers and the accountability of their employers.
Similarly, drealeve, a presenter with Urban96, shared her frustration with the company’s alleged non-payment of salaries, revealing that many staff members had resigned out of sheer frustration. She accused the CEO of prioritizing frivolous expenditures over the well-being of employees.
These revelations paint a troubling picture of mismanagement and disregard for staff welfare, further fueling public criticism of the company. The situation has reignited conversations about the need for stricter labor laws to protect employees in Nigeria’s media industry.
In response to such issues, the House of Representatives in 2023 proposed the “Employees Remuneration Protection Bill, 2023,” aimed at criminalizing the non-payment of salaries. Section 7 (1) of the bill explicitly states that it is unlawful for any employer to “refuse or neglect to pay the remuneration of their employees.”
The bill also proposed a prison term of three to six months for employers found guilty of violating this provision. This legislative effort highlights the government’s recognition of the growing problem of wage theft and its commitment to addressing it.
A year earlier, in 2022, another bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Late Payment, Non-Payment, and Underpayment of Workers’ Wages, Pension and Other Emolument in Nigeria” had already passed its second reading.
This proposed law sought to impose penalties on employers who failed to pay staff wages or pensions for more than 60 days. Both bills underscore the urgency of implementing stronger legal frameworks to protect workers from exploitation and ensure that employers fulfill their financial obligations.
As the spotlight remains on Soundcity and its parent company, many hope that these legislative measures will soon translate into tangible protections for employees across all sectors.
