NLC demands new minimum wage for Lagos media workers
The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress has said that workers of the state-owned broadcast stations are entitled to the new minimum wage and should be paid the wage.
The chairman of the chapter, Mrs Funmi Sessi, made the assertion during a protest by the workers on Monday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the protest was by members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and those of the Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union in Lagos State media organisations.
They protested non-payment of the new minimum wage as well as exclusion from the state’s Oracle payment system.
Both unions vowed to halt operations of the media organisations – Lagos Television, Radio Lagos/Eko FM and Traffic Radio, from January 13, to drive home their demands.
Sessi, while addressing the workers, said: “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.”
The NLC chairman said 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 Gov. 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.”
Speaking to newsmen, the Chairman of the Lagos State Council of NUJ, Adeleye Ajayi, said the media workers demanded fair treatment and wages for being at the centre of promoting government policies.
He said, “Our members should be integrated into the Oracle database. Oracle database is like the IPPIS system in the Federal Civil Service that creates a seamless way of paying workers’ salaries and other benefits.
“We have given different ultimatums – a 10-day ultimatum, a 21-day ultimatum, and the last and final one was a seven-day ultimatum.
“I think these are ultimatums for the state government to accede to the requests of our members.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the workers said the strike had become imperative due to the state government’s failure to meet their demands.
They carried placards with different inscriptions that included: “Give us Oracle and take the revenue generated, “Palliatives and subventions are not working,” “Oracle is the answer,” and “All we need is Oracle! Save our today and secure our future.”
The others are: “Non-implementation of new minimum wage is anti-labour,” “Minimum wage, a must! Our sweat is drying up,” “Save us from career stagnation”, and “LTV, Radio Lagos, and Traffic Radio are not a liability, we are an asset to the government.”
