Ogun radio workers adamant, give final strike notice

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By Olusola AJIBIKE (Abeokuta)

NIGERIA: WORKERS at the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) have given the management of the station the final notice of their impending strike.

The aggrieved workers said on Friday that in line with the law, they gave the management three working days more to yield to their demands, failure of which they shall embark on industrial action on Tuesday.

Speaking at the press conference held at Iwe-Iroyin Press Centre, Abeokuta, Abiodun Ogundipe (NUJ Chapel Chairman) and Ayo Aina (RATTAWU Chapel Chairman) declared that should the management ignore the warning they would have no option than to commence the strike.

The unions exonerated the state government from their pains over the non-payment of their debts as it has been religiously paying the station’s subvention, while the radio station management refused to meet its financial obligations towards the staff entitlements and welfare.

“We therefore make it clear that we do not have any problem or issues with Governor Ibikunle Amosun or the Ogun State Government, rather our call is to the management of OGBC to do the needful and live up to expectation,” the peeved workers said.

The staffers, through the two unions, also frowned at attitude of those alleged to be political elements trying to make political gains our of their demand.

“We just held a Congress now in the office and concluded that it will be good to have the final three-day ultimatum to the management of OGBC to pay the outstanding amount of money or face industrial action,” the competent source at the meeting said.

He added: “The management invited the police to the compound.  They drove in and saw us in orderly manner and drove out immediately.”

“The final three days ultimatum starts today and end on Tuesday next week,” the worker said.

The workers had earlier cried out over their unpaid monies of N148.26 million which is their outstanding entitlements between 2012 and 2017.

The workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Radio Television and Theater Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) gave the ultimatum at a joint congress held at the station’s premises in Abeokuta.

The demands of the 157 aggrieved staff were contained in a resolution signed by Abiodun Ogundipe (NUJ Chairman), and Ayo Aina (RATTAWU Chairman).

According to them, the money being owed them include outstanding salaries for four months (N76.8 million), pension deductions from 2012 to date (N45 million), outstanding union dues for 2017 (N464, 000), national housing fund deductions for 2013 to date (N2 million) and CTCS deduction of 2011-2016 (N6 million)

The NUJ and RATTAWU, which demanded immediate intervention by Amosun on their plight, stated that the ultimatum was given after the expiration of the 14 days prior issued to the management of the radio station.

The peeved workers threatened that should the management fail to address their demands before the expiration of the seven days ultimatum they would embark on the industrial action.

“Following the expiration of the 14 days ultimatum given to the management of the station on the 16th of April, 2017 and its expiration on 25th of April, 2017 for the payment of all outstanding salaries and deductions, we write to inform you of the decision of both unions (RATTAWU and NUJ) to issue the final seven-day ultimatum as stipulated in the labour law for the demand to be met,” they said.

The aggrieved workers also forwarded copies of their resolution to Amosun, the Secretary to State Government, Head of Service, Commissioner of Information and Strategy and Board Chairman of the radio station.

They said: “This decision was taken at a joint congress of both unions that was well attended by our members today, 26th of April.  We would also like to state that the management has not paid adequate attention to our demands as money that should have been used to meet part of our demands have been diverted to the payment of impress to and buying of fuel for personal use of management staff.”

“We will very much appreciate the intervention of His Excellency, the Governor of the State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Otunba Dayo Adeneye, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Peter Fagboun which would allow for industrial peace and given us hope,” they said.

They also added: “We would appreciate if the following demands are met for industrial harmony: (a) payment of outstanding salaries for four months at N76.8m, (b) payment of pension deductions from 2012 to date which is over N45m‎ (c) payment of outstanding union dues for year 2017 at N464, 000 (d) National Housing Fund deductions of 2013 to date of over N2m (e) OGBC CTCS deduction of 2011-2016 of over N6m.”

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