Radio Rivers workers down tools, seek sack of management
Staff of Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, RSBC down tools over alleged mismanagement of the media outfit in Port Harcourt.
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
Protest over decayed facilities, nonpayment of 14 months’ arrears of salaries
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Some of the Staff of Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Rivers RSBC on Monday locked out members of the management team of the corporation in protest over alleged mismanagement of the media outfit in Port Harcourt.
The angry workers called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to sack the management over the poor mismanagement of the FM Stereo station of RSBC.
It was gathered that the protest was organized by the two trade unions in the broadcasting outfit over alleged lack of accountability and transparency in the administration of the outfit at every level of the broadcasting outfit.
Members of the unions led by Lekia Anya( NUJ) and Raph Zabbey ( Rattawu) had as as early as as 6:30 am mobilized staff to lock the gate to prevent the management team led by Mr. Samson Fiberesima from gaining access into the Corporation establishment.
The unions expressed lack of confidence in the General manager and his team. They cited maladministration and alleged financial recklessness, neglect of operational facilities and equipment-Unending off – air syndrome, Safety , Hygiene and Sanitation issues among others as reason for the protest
According to them, the protest was the resolution of Congress after several options for dialogue with the management on derivable failed.
They also claimed to have drawn the attention of the government to the abysmal state of the station and appealed to Governor Sim Fubara to as a matter of urgency wade in to alleviate the pathetic situation of the station.
Some of the workers who spoke to newsmen expressed disappointment with the General Manager, saying, “we want a change of the management team.”
“We are no longer relevant in the broadcast industry because of the lack of direction of the management.
“Everyday, our station goes off air. You can’t believe that we’ve been off – air since last Wednesday and our management doesn’t care.
” As we speak, the conveniences are bad and workers can’t use them. Casual staff have yet to be paid 14 months salary, the studios – On Air and Recording are dilapidated and management doesn’t care and when you go to the GM to complain, there’s always the blame game . We are tired of this.
” We want the State Government to come to our aid. We can’t bear this anymore”, they said.
The unions also pasted placards at the gate of the radio station it reads as follows:-
“We say no to maladministration and sabotage in Radio Rivers,”
Mismanagement of funds not following due process”
Gov Sim Please save Radio Rivers”.
PmNews/TheNews magazine Correspondent contacted the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, to get his reaction.
Calls were made on his mobile number but there was no response and even the text message left on his mobile number at time of filing this report.
