 say management compelled them to sign a controversial “undertaking” pledging){kind=link}
Ibadan, Oyo State. Nigeria — Employees of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) say management compelled them to sign a controversial “undertaking” pledging not to join any trade union or seek outside intervention in workplace matters — with the clear understanding that refusal could cost them their jobs.
“They didn’t shout it,” the employee said, “but the message was loud — if you don’t sign, you’re putting your job on the line.”
Undertaking at Odds With Labour Laws
The document reportedly bars staff from “seeking the intervention of any external body in matters concerning the Corporation” and “participating in or joining any trade union for the duration of employment.”
Labour experts say such clauses are illegal. Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees freedom of association, and the Labour Act prohibits employers from restricting workers from joining a union. The Trade Unions Act further establishes that membership is voluntary and cannot be waived under duress.
“This is a clear violation,” said Comrade Kayode Olagunju, Former Chairman of the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) BCOS Chapter. “When workers are coerced into signing away their rights, that document has no legal standing — and the act itself is an unfair labour practice.”
Fear and Compliance
Several BCOS workers admit they signed reluctantly to avoid immediate retaliation. “I have children in school,” said one long-serving producer. “When they say you either sign or risk your position, you sign. You can’t afford to be the example they make.”
Union leaders say the element of coercion makes the matter especially serious. “It’s not just illegal — it’s intimidation,” Kayode said.
Management’s Position
BCOS management, when contacted, described the undertaking as “an internal measure to preserve organisational discipline” and denied that it was compulsory. However, workers insist the instructions were delivered in a way that left no choice.
Labour leaders warn the case could set a dangerous precedent if left unchecked. “If a state-owned broadcaster can strip its workers of union rights, others will follow,” said an Ibadan-based labour rights activist. “It’s not just about BCOS — it’s about the future of organised labour in Nigeria.”
For now, many BCOS employees remain fearful but hopeful. One staff member said, “We signed to survive today — but we’re fighting so we don’t have to keep signing away our rights tomorrow.”
