Staff of the Imo State
Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, operators of Orient radio FM and Television
yesterday shut the operations of the broadcasting stations over non-payment of
six months minimum wage arrears of the workers released by the state government.
This came less than 24 hours
after retired workers of the IBC took to the streets of Owerri in protest of 48
months non-payment of their pension arrears worth over N258 million by the
state government.
The workers who commenced a
three-day warning strike to press home their demands, also locked the gates of the corporation, leaving an
inscription on it thus: “IBC strike is total. No skeletal service. Be warned”
They rebuffed every attempt
by the state commissioner for information, Dr. TOE Ekechi to persuade them to
open the gate to the corporation for a discussion, insisting that the
discussion be held on a neutral ground.
Speaking with journalists, the
chairman of the Joint Action Committee, JAC, of RATTAWU, NUJAND NUCSSASW, Mr.
Sam Eke disclosed that the staff were also protesting the non-remittance of
departmental and unions deductions from staff individual salaries, including Corporative
Thrift Loan Scheme, CTLS, all running into millions of naira per month.
He added that the operational
staff were usually mandated by the management to sleep over in the studio under
very inhuman conditions as well as non-provision of vehicles for operational
staff.
Eke said despite the
complaints of lack of funds, the management of the corporation continued to
embark on frequent and frivolous tours to the detriment of staff salaries and
allowances among other complaints.
One of the staff who pleaded
anonymity said the government and the management was insensitive to the plight
of the IBC staff despite the fact that the management recently increased the
airtime for news bulletin from 30 to 45 minutes with little time for the
corporation to make money.
The workers demanded that all
the minimum wage arrears owed them be paid immediately and that all deductions
made from their salaries be remitted immediately
While demanding the immediate
reversal of the “draconian sleep-over policy” and the provision of sound
operational vehicles, they also demanded the reduction of frequent tours by the
management, which they said was affecting the revenue base of the corporation.
The commissioner for
information later agreed to hold discussion with them at the Mbari Cultural
Centre.
