An Abuja-based Non-Governmental Organisation, the Society for Rule of Law in Nigeria (SRLN), has expressed deep concern over what it described as the unfair treatment of workers—particularly editorial staff—at Sahara Reporters.
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According to the group, staff are treated “like slaves,” with no formal employment letters and are only paid meagre sums per story published, despite the high risks they take in carrying out their duties.
In a statement issued after its meeting in Abuja on Sunday, the Coordinator of SRLN, Dr. Chima Ubeku, alleged that while the platform’s founder, Omoyele Sowore, lives lavishly—including reportedly spending over ₦200 million annually on a child’s school fees—his editorial team is left struggling on token payments.
The group further noted the irony in Sowore’s public advocacy for improved police welfare, calling for policemen to earn not less than ₦500,000 monthly, while his own staff allegedly receive no fixed salary at all.
Describing the situation as “inhumane and exploitative,” SRLN accused Sowore of violating Nigeria’s Labour Act, 2004, which sets the framework for fair employment practices in the country.
The organisation has therefore urged the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) to step in and protect Sahara Reporters’ staff from what it termed modern-day workplace slavery.
