Uhuru staff assured of salary, perks after Magufuli’s visit

PRESIDENT John Magufuli has directed the CCM Secretary General, Mr Abdulrahman Kinana, to make sure that the salary arrears for the staff of Uhuru Publications Limited staff amounting to 609m/- are paid within this month.

The president, who made a surprise visit of the CCM-owned media house, issued the directive after he received complaints from workers who told the president, who is also National Chairman of the ruling party, that they had not been paid their stipends for seven months.

Uhuru Publications Limited publishes ‘Uhuru’, ‘Mzalendo’ and ‘Burudani’ as well as running Uhuru radio station, whose company’s headquarters is located along Lumumba Street in Dar es Salaam.

During his impromptu visit, Dr Magufuli held a meeting with the company’s staff. Apart from unpaid salaries, the workers complained that the statutory deductions for remittance at the National Social Security (NSSF) contributions were also not being sent by the company’s administration.

The workers further charged that in a bizarre twist of events, the company’s printing press had been sold in unsubstantiated circumstances.

Other queries were that the management and its board failed to recognise some employment contracts and that some retirees were not paid their send-off packages while some government institutions failed to clear outstanding debts they owe the company.

In what appeared to be a tough moment to the management, the workers pointed yet another accusing finger to the top company’s leadership, requesting the CCM chairman to intervene and come to their rescue.

In his response, apart from directing Mr Kinana to ensure that the salaries were paid, Dr Magufuli further directed that the party’s authorities provide him with a list of all government institutions that were yet to clear their outstanding debts.

Dr Magufuli directed the management of the company to approve the money that was being deducted from workers’ salaries to be remitted to NSSF immediately.

On the various complaints over the management and its board, Dr Magufuli promised to work on all the queries that were raised by the employees.

Meanwhile, the president yesterday wished a quick recovery to former Speaker of the National Assembly and cabinet minister, Mr Samuel Sitta, who is receiving treatment in Dar es Salaam. A statement from the Directorate of Presidential Communications said later that Mr Sitta’s health was stabilising.