Tensions are rising at the Delta Printing & Publishing Corporation (DPPC) as the National Union of Printing, Publishing, Products, and Paper Workers (NUPPPPROW) has issued an ultimatum to the Board of Directors, threatening to shut down operations by 9 a.m. today, January 29, 2025.

In a statement signed by Comrade Joy E. Fasindor, the union’s chairman, the workers are demanding that the Board adhere to the established procedure of shortlisting the three most senior officers for the position of General Manager (GM). This practice was followed in the past two years, leading to the appointment of Mr. Sam Ijeh in 2023 and the current Acting GM, Mr. Godfrey Ubaka, who is set to vacate office on February 16, 2025.

According to NUPPPPROW, despite multiple letters sent to the Board on December 10, 2024, and January 21, 2025, the management has not responded to their concerns. Instead, the Board has scheduled a screening exercise for officers on Grade Levels 15-17, a move the union describes as “a predetermined agenda” designed to manipulate the selection process.

“This development is unacceptable to our Union as it is not only strange but also susceptible to manipulation by people with vested interests in the Corporation,” the statement read.

The union insists that the selection process should follow the legal provisions of the Delta State Printing & Publishing Corporation Law 2021. It argues that any senior officer, regardless of their union affiliation – whether from NUPPPPROW or the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) – should be considered for the GM position.

NUPPPPROW also alleges past unfair exclusions of its members from previous shortlists, citing the case of Deputy General Manager Festus Uzor, who was reportedly left out of the 2024 shortlist despite being more senior than some selected candidates.

The union has outlined six key demands, including: The Board must compile and submit the names of the three most senior officers.

The shortlist must reflect the true ranking of officers from both unions.

No officer should be unjustifiably excluded from consideration.

The GM must have at least four years of service left before retirement.

The Board must prioritize fairness and transparency.

In a separate letter addressed to the Honourable Commissioner for Information, the union expressed concerns about the Acting GM’s plan to screen over ten officers for the role, rather than maintaining the precedent of selecting from the three most senior officers.

With the Board yet to respond, the union has made it clear that if its demands are not met by 9 a.m. today, workers will shut down operations at DPPC, preventing anyone from entering the premises until the Board Chairman addresses them.

As the deadline approaches, all eyes are on the Board of Directors to see whether they will meet the workers’ demands or risk industrial action that could disrupt operations at DPPC.