Lagos Television, Eko FM/Radio Lagos, and Lagos Traffic Radio’s regular operations were shut down Monday by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Lagos State chapter, and employees in protest of the stations’ management’s failure to implement the N85,000 minimum wage.
Under the auspices of the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria, or RATTAWU, NLC picketed the station and asked that it be put on the Oracle system in coordination with the employees of the three broadcast stations.
A few weeks ago, the employees informed the three stations’ management that they were prepared to stop operations if the stations did not comply with the Lagos State Government’s minimum pay.
With signs that said, among other things, “Give us Oracle and take the revenue generated, Oracle is the answer, it’s all we need, Pay us Minimum Wage,” the workers blocked the entrance and exit to the broadcast stations’ Agidingbi complex early in the morning.
Comrade Funmi Sessi, the NLC’s state chairman, led the workers in their solo songs.
Speaking with press, Sessi said, “We started peacefully, and we are going to end it peacefully. Nobody is going to push us through the wall.
‘I assure everybody that we shall be peaceful because we are Lagosians.
“We are here this morning you can see the workers of government in communication departments that is LTV, Eko FM, and Traffic Radio, all here to show their displeasure against the injustice that has been meted out to them, This is the situation they do there work to the best of their abilities and now at the receiving end by being shortchanged. And not receiving the new Minimum wage as being approved and agreed upon by the law set by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“This is an injustice to the set of workers. The management has been given the mandate to pay the minimum wage has been announced by the Lagos State Government. They are Lagos State workers.
“Since the government has commenced implementation of the N85,000 minimum wage since November they have never collected the minimum wage. The arrears of the three months and the 13th month they have not been enjoying the benefits. So, why is this disparity for this set of workers even in the face of this hardship?
The management had previously been contacted by their union’s leadership. They provided the conversation 21 days’ notice. Despite following appropriate process and giving 14 and 7 days after multiple interactions with management, there was no resolution. They now instruct the workers to shield their swords after seeing that they are determined to fight for their rights.
“Though, the governor has been doing a lot and showing empathy to workers. We are hereby appealing to him to prevail on the management to do the needful and avoid unnecessary disruption to operations in the interest of the majority. We will sustain this struggle until the government listens and takes appropriate action on these demands.”