The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and workers shut down normal operations of Lagos Television, Eko FM/Radio Lagos, and Lagos Traffic Radio on Monday in protest at the stations’ management’s failure to implement the N85,000 minimum wage.
The NLC picketed the three broadcast stations in partnership with workers from the Radio, Television, Theatre, and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), demanding that they be placed on the Oracle System.
A few weeks ago, the workers informed management that they were ready to strike if the stations failed to adopt the Lagos State Government-mandated minimum wage. Early in the morning, workers blocked the entrance and exit to the Agidingbi complex of the broadcast stations, holding signs with various inscriptions, including “Give us Oracle and take the revenue generated, Oracle is the answer, it’s all we need, Pay us Minimum Wage,” among others.
The workers were led in their solidarity songs by the state Chairman of NLC, Comrade Funmi Sessi. Speaking with newsmen, 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.”
Sessi continued: “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 their 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.”
She further emphasized: “This is an injustice to the set of workers. The management has been given the mandate to pay the minimum wage as 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 union’s leadership had already engaged management, giving them a 21-day notice to dialogue. Following repeated contacts with management, they provided 14 and 7 days of due process, but there was no resolution. When they observed that the workers were determined to fight for their rights, they were instructed to sheathe their swords.
Sessi concluded: “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.”