ENUGU – The Radio, Televisions, Theater, and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) has called for the unconditional recall of workers of Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS).
The RATTAWU National President, Mr Yemisi Bamgbose, made the call on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.
Bamgbose said the situation at the broadcasting station which had led to a crisis between its management and staff members was uncalled for.
“We are here discussing how we are going to be successful in terms of the 2015 elections and a whole television station is shut down.
“The Enugu State Broadcasting Service, the television arm, of it has been shut down in the last one year.
“The radio is not even broadcasting news and the programmes of that station, according to the information at our disposal, are alien to the people of this place. [eap_ad_1] “And again majority of the workers have been asked to go and sit down at home. (The) Gate of that organisation is locked against workers.
“Workers have been asked to move out of their residential quarters and we want very good coverage of elections knowing fully the role of the electronic media in informing, educating, enlightening and entertaining the public as well as the effect of a grassroots radio and television station such as ESBS that should be able to get to people unhindered,“ he said.
Bamgbose appealed to the management of the station to recall the workers without further delay and make the environment suitable for their duties.
“The position of RATTAWU is that workers should be allowed to go in and continue to do their jobs. The television station should be attended to.
“Government should make money available and get equipment that will bring that station back on air.
“Workers should be able to perform their roles; management should be allowed to perform its own role.
“The unions should be called together. That is the essence of the two unions that are existing there – NUJ and RATTAWU – and they are not just ordinary associations. They are legal entities.
“Let’s sit down together and find solutions to the problems that are confronting ESBS,“ Bamgbose said.
When contacted on phone, the Managing Director of ESBS, Mr Jika Attoh, said that the state government was carrying out an exercise to reposition the station and that he was only a consultant.
NAN recalls that members of staff of ESBS had on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful protest to the State House of Assembly over their continued clampdown. (NAN)
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