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| Some of the staff of Radio Nigeria, Akure during the protest |
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The staff of the Federal Radio Corporation (FRCN) on Monday shut down activities at the station for two hours to protest against what they called poor working conditions and obsolete equipment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protest was organised by the Labour Unions of the station nationwide and was tagged, ‘Black Monday’.
The staff carried placards with various inscription like, “Spot assessment of all FRCN facilities across the country by the Minister of Information and FRCN board members.”.
‘Settlement of outstanding staff allowances in Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria’ and ‘Radio Nigeria is dying, Buhari act now.’.
“FG should exempt FRCN from remitting 25 per cent to FG purse.”.
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Speaking at the protest, Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) Chairman,Ondo FRCN Chapter,Mr John Ebiofini said since the station had been created sixteen years ago, no improvement had been made on the equipments at the station.
Ebiofini said the equipments at the station could not cover the nooks and crannies of the state,talk less of going beyond.
“Today, due to deplorable conditions of our outdated equipment,we cannot boast of covering Ondo State where we are located.
“Are we not ashamed of ourselves being a Federal Government establishment that supposed to set the pace for states and private broadcasting houses to follow suit?,” he said.
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Echoing the NUJ chairman’s submission the Radio and Television Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) of the station, Mr Gabriel Afolabi said the protest was to send signals to FG through the managements.
Afolabi said that,” There is a big one ahead unless it does everything possible to avert that before the twenty one day ultimatum ends.”
He noted that gifts such as; computers, cars, computers among others by concerned Nigerians were moved out of the offices by managements.
Mrs Laurel Ojo, Former Chairman of RATTAWU in the state,said productivity at the station was diminishing due to various factors.
Ojo said staff on night duties now sleep on the floor, which at times lead to snake bite, rat bite and many other dangerous animals biting workers due to poor environmental conditions.
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Also speaking, the NUJ Chairman in the State,Mr James Sowole urged the FG to send down delegation to see the deplorable conditions the workers were carrying out their duties.
Sowole noted that FRCN is a leading radio station in the country and must not be allowed to go into oblivion due to obsolete equipments and poor working conditions.
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