Less than 48 hours to the planned industrial action by workers in Lagos State-owned broadcast stations, the state government has urged the unions to suspend the strike and await a resolution of their grievances.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) had issued a strike notice effective Monday, January 13, to demand the integration of workers at Lagos Television, Radio Lagos/Eko FM, and Traffic Radio into the state’s Oracle system for unified salary payment.
In a statement on Saturday, Afolabi Ayantayo, Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments and Training, assured the unions that their concerns were being addressed. He disclosed that a meeting was held on January 8 with union leaders, and their demands have been escalated to the Lagos State Executive Council.
He said: “A consideration of the request was initiated through a meeting between representatives of the Government, led by the Honourable Commissioner for Establishments and Training, and the leadership of the Unions on January 8, 2025.
“The meeting rose with a resolution that the agitation of the Unions would be presented to the Lagos State Executive Council.”
Ayantayo counseled the workers to reconsider the plan to down tools.
“Therefore, the Union members are advised to rethink their plan to proceed on an industrial action for an amicable resolution of the dispute.” The commissioner said.
Earlier, the unions invited media houses, including The West, to cover the planned strike. In their invitation, they emphasized the importance of Oracle integration for job security and urged all members to participate in the protest.
Currently, workers in the three broadcast stations are excluded from the Oracle system, with salaries paid from revenue generated by the stations. However, an insider revealed that salary payments have been inconsistent, raising fears of possible non-payment in the near future.
“You think we’re making money from those stations? The brands are not competitive, and sales and advertising revenue are poor,” the source said, noting that rental facilities like the Blue Roof and Marquee halls are keeping the stations afloat. The source added, “If the management has nothing to hide, they should support our call for government intervention in salary payments.”
