Nigeria’s first online radio community, RadioGuideNG, and some On-Air-Media-Personalities have raised serious concerns over alleged unpaid salaries at Group 8 Media, owners of Soundcity, Urban96, and Correct FM stations.
The group reportedly owes staff members salary arrears of up to eight months.
In a post shared on their social media page, RadioGuideNG expressed frustration over the situation, describing it as unacceptable and calling for immediate action.
“Group 8’s got quite a reputation, and genuinely, we would like to know… how those who work there are doing. Really, how are you doing? Are you good? When last did you get paid?” the post read. “It’s essential to have these conversations. It’s a new year, and believe us, this is not the best way to start the year.”
The statement further criticized any potential backlash against employees who speak out. “If some of y’all working there are able to figure out your income by doing other things, those who can’t shouldn’t be reprimanded for speaking out! We don’t want to hear no OG saying they shouldn’t have spoken out. Why do we wait till it’s really bad before doing the right thing?”
Eve Isikalu, a radio host on Urban96FM, also took to social media to call out Group 8 over the alleged non-payment of her salaries. In a series of posts on her Instagram stories, she expressed her frustration and demanded her dues.
“Please can someone make me understand how a person will work for a person or a company and will not pay them for months? In this harsh economy, costing the person a home and endangering the person’s health as well,” she wrote.
Isikalu detailed the toll the non-payment had taken on her and other staff members, accusing the company of negligence and manipulation.
“Instead of paying people, you’re tossing them back and forth. Why does it have to get this far before a person can get what is owed them? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!”
She further alleged that the company’s failure to pay salaries had forced many employees to resign due to stress and frustration. “Because of this behaviour, a lot of people resigned out of stress and frustration… And you are yet to pay them what they are owed,” she said.
“Silence is a killer,” Isikalu said in her posts. “After all the stress, hard work, and risks, you don’t want to pay what is owed, and then you expect people to show up and still give their all. Very selfish and manipulative behaviour.”
The allegations have sparked outrage on social media, with many calling for the management of Group 8 Media to address the issue.
Popular on-air personality Do2dtun, whose real name is Oladotun Ojuolape Kayode, took to social media to condemn the situation. In a tweet, he questioned the company’s ethics and asked why staff were being treated so poorly.
“It’s not by force to open a radio station,” Do2dtun tweeted. “Owing your staff for 8 months is very cruel and inhumane. You don’t need a soothsayer to tell you this. My friends and colleagues at Soundcity, how do you guys cope? No salary for 8 months? Mehn, that’s crazy!”
His post sparked reactions from alleged current and former staff members, with many sharing their painful experiences working for Group 8.
An Instagram user, identified as “og_omo-ade,” shared a harrowing account of how the unpaid salaries pushed him into debt, strained his family, and caused severe mental health struggles.
“I’m equally tired of keeping silent. I’m being owed six months of unpaid salaries. I ran into a lot of debt working with Group 8, which included Palmpay loans, and all I was doing was debt servicing till I ran into depression and almost took my own life. My kids were sent out of school several times, I couldn’t meet my responsibilities, and I started having issues with my wife. Tajudeen Adepetu, pay me my money… God is watching you.”
He claimed that even the accountant stopped responding to calls and messages.
An X user, identified as Olisa Mani, alleged that he worked at the company for only one month before leaving due to what he described as poor working conditions.
“I worked there for just 1 month. I left after I saw how they ran the place like a mob house. They will still fire staff weekly for the most simple reasons and hire new ones almost immediately, just to make sure they don’t pay anyone. Some are owed more than a year. Lol.”
The ongoing backlash has put the spotlight on Group 8 Ltd, which operates under the leadership of its CEO, Tajudeen Adepetu. Group 8 is part of Consolidated Media Associates (CMA), a media conglomerate managing other brands like Soundcity TV, Spice TV, and ONTV.
