What future for Triumph newspaper?

The decision, which was announced after a meeting of the members of the state executive council, was received with mixed reactions, with a section of the public regarding it as an appropriate intervention formula, while others criticize it for being over generalized and failing to target specific shortcomings. Following the closure, however, the about 200 […]

The decision, which was announced after a meeting of the members of the state executive council, was received with mixed reactions, with a section of the public regarding it as an appropriate intervention formula, while others criticize it for being over generalized and failing to target specific shortcomings.

Following the closure, however, the about 200 staff strength of the company was directed to report at the Office of the state Head of Service for reassigning to other duties in government ministries and parastatals.

Until the administration of Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso shut it down completely, Triumph Publishing Company had in its entire 32-year history, suspended production once when the immediate past administration of former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau closed it for a period of six months to “restructure” it.

But even while the project was going on, staff were said to be allowed to report to work.

Equally, during Shekarau’s tenure, his administration reportedly pumped the sum of N8.9million, with a view to revamp it. But observers said the money was far below the amount needed for total and effective overhaul of the industry, which was already struggling under years of neglect.

Also, it was said that the intervention at that time was not tailored towards prodding the institution to become financially viable, as all that was said to have been targeted at the was to strengthened propaganda prowess.

Over the years, observers with knowledge of the internal workings of Triumph as a government-owned newspaper, have blamed its dwindling fortunes on excessive interference by successive governments in the state.

These were in addition to problems associated with lack of patronage and poor management, believed to have characterized the company’s operations.

Triumph, as a state-owned newspaper publishing company was established in 1980 by the administration of the first civilian governor of Kano State, the late Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi.

Rimi established Triumph not as a machinery for projecting his administration’s policies, but as a platform to showcase the historical, cultural and traditional depths of the people of Kano, as well as a channel through which the electorate could intimate the government about their needs.

The only state governor in the history of Kano State, who dispassionately allowed the media outfit to breathe air of independence in the discharge of its responsibilities, was Rimi himself.

With his exception, all other chief executives of the state, whether military or civilian, keenly encouraged its subservience to their dictates and to publish pro-state government only stories. Any other news item that could paint the state government or its cronies in bad light were hardly considered for publication.

It was for the sole reason of keeping tab on the activities of the newspaper house, it was argued, that governments in power appointed their trusted loyalists to head it.

Most of these factors, observers pointed, contributed in killing the prestige of Triumph, especially at newspaper stands, where it used to be one of the best picks, because readers came to regard it as a subjective mouthpiece of the government.

Even former political office holders and government officials criticized the news media for talking harsh on them and unjustifiably pillorying them the moment they left power, in addition to shutting them from being heard, especially after leaving office.

Sunday Trust gathered that for many years, the paper had not been counting on sales, which had since trickled to a halt. Thus leaving its management with the arithmetic of circulating a limited number of complimentary copies – not up to 500, it was said – to government offices within Kano and other parts of the North.

Also killed by government influence was revenue from advertisement.

This is in spite of the fact that the company had one of the best equipped presses in the country, fitted with the state-of-the-art equipments for  quality production. This is in addition to a number of experienced and professional staff.

Insiders said the number of paid adverts accruing to the paper were too meager to finance the least of its activities. They explained that the policy of its editorial contents had greatly encouraged its readers to shift their patronage to other newspapers which they believe are focused on giving a hearing to all the sections of the society.

The few of the advertisements placed in its title are hardly paid for, because they are usually accompanied by a note from government officials, requesting waivers, it was learnt.

In a situation that seemed to provide an early warning signal an impending collapse, the newspaper stopped paying its staff their monthly salaries. While staff were still battling for pay, the state government came up with the closure notice.

But some of the staff accused the management of being behind their plight, even as they equally put the blame of the crumbling state of the company on years of internal mismanagement. They said their predicament started last year, following a meeting between Governor Kwankwaso and the management of the company, where they said an “unfeasible and unrealistic” bailout plan was worked out and agreed.

The details of the intervention, according to them, indicated that the state government was going to release N50million to the management and continue to pay staff salaries for only six months period. After the duration, they said, the state government would stop financing company on the calculation that it could then stand on its own.

However, at the time the state government stopped bankrolling its activities after the agreed period, the management of the newspaper could not afford to pay salaries. Against this backdrop, Triumph staff criticized the management for presenting a poor proposal to government.

There are fears among a section of the employees that government may never recall them to continue working in the company, as they claimed that there were indications that government may sell off the newspaper to private individuals, who may not require their services.

But the Head of Service, Alhaji Shehu Umar, had assured the staff that the state government was not going to disengage them  from its service. He also promised prompt settlement of their outstanding three months salaries.

Also, in his defence of the closure, the state Commissioner for Information, Professor Umar Faruk, said government took the decision to resuscitate the “comatose” Triumph and to make it capable of competing with other successful newspaper organizations in the country.

The commissioner, who disclosed that the option of privatizing of the company was being looked into, noted, however, that Kano State government was still having interest in retaining the company.

“You know Triumph was left for the last 10 years without any serious commitment from the previous government to improve it and when we came in we thought may be we can prop it up by injecting some little money and a new administration. Unfortunately, things didn’t work the way we wanted,” he said.

Professor Faruk further explained that a committee had been set up to assess and advise on the best way of turning around the media house.

“We want to build a better Triumph than the one we met from the previous administration. All options are on the table. But the fact is not that government is not interested in the company. The most important thing is that government wants to see the newspaper competing favourably with any newspaper company in this country,” he said.

He was, however, silent on the reopening date.

Observers believe that apart from pumping more funds and hiring best hands, which might be recommended by the committee, the state government must summon the courage to allow the newspaper to determine its own editorial content, based on facts and needs of the generality of the state’s taxpayers, even as it continues to publicize government activities.

They argued that only when that is achieved can Triumph Publishing Company compete among equals and realize the objectives of its founding fathers.