• Threatens to Shut Down LTV, Radio Lagos, other State-Owned Media

• Safiu Kehinde

Members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) across Lagos State media organisations have, on Monday, protested over non-payment of new minimum wage as well as exclusion from the state’s Oracle payment system.

Both unions had vowed to halt operations of the media organisations – Lagos Television, Radio Lagos/Eko FM and Traffic Radio, from Jan. 13, to drive home their demands.

Also present at the protest ground was the Chairman of Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mrs Funmi Sessi.

Addressing the protesting workers, Sessi held that workers of the state-owned broadcast stations are entitled to the new minimum wage and should be paid the wage.

“You are workers of the state government, your letter of employment reads so, and you are entitled to the new minimum wage by the law of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“You should not be paid less.” She said.

The NLC chairman said that the protesting workers were discharging their duties to the best of their abilities, disseminating information about the activities of the state government and doing more.

“However, they are the ones not receiving the new minimum wage, which has been approved by the government.

“This is injustice to these workers,” she said.

Sessi appealed to the state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene, describing him as full of empathy.

“Mr governor, we are not targeting your administration, but these workers have come out to say that their management has not done the needful.

“This government is doing well; It is a whole new government and administration that is maintaining a very cordial relationship with workers.

“However, it will not be good for some workers in the state not to enjoy the benefits that others are enjoying.

“This is why we are out and calling on our good governor; these workers are demanding and asking that they should be included in the state’s Oracle payment system.” Sessi added.