15th March, 2011
Workers at the Lagos Television and Radio Lagos have issued a month ultimatum to the Lagos State Government to implement the new salary package promised public servants in the state or face industrial action.
The workers lamented that they were still being paid the old salary package while the government has started paying civil servants the new salary package.
At an emergency meeting on Monday, the workers resolved to fight for their right. They accused the management of not heeding their demands.
The meeting was convened by the local chapters of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ in Lagos Television and Radio Lagos and the Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union, RATTAWU, with their leaders, Titi Adeaga and Taiwo Omoshule, addressing the workers.
The workers protested briefly after the meeting and promised to down tools if the new salary package was not reflected in this month’s salary.
P.M.NEWS gathered that the two unions had earlier sent a protest letter to the Head of Service, HOS, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, demanding the implementation of the new salary increment or face an industrial action. The HOS is yet to reply the workers.
One of the workers, who craved anonymity, told P.M.NEWS that the management of Eko FM had told them that they did not have money to pay the new salary package because their subvention had been cut by half by the state government.
According to our source, the station’s monthly subvention of N8 million was reduced to N4 million and later increased to N5 million.
“It was like a rumour, but last week, we got our pay slips and we saw the old package. Now that the new salary package is being paid workers, we are getting the old package. That was why the meeting was held,†our source stated.
Another staff decried the inability of government to pay workers the new salary package, describing it as act of injustice.
“The problem is with the state government. They ought to give the authorities more funds to pay the new salary package. I don’t blame the authorities, the government is to blame. If we go on strike, it will affect the government and preparations for the elections,†he said.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga
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