JUST IN: Journalists Shutdown BCOS Over Makinde’s Insistence on Demolition of Staff Quarters

The protest is being led by the BCOS RATTAWU Chairman, Kolapo Carew and BCOS NUJ Chairman, Abiodun Akinkunle and other members of the two union.

The Pacesetter News reports that the journalists have blocked the main gate of the broadcasting station.

The Pacesetter News understands that the unions may like shutdown operations of the radio and television stations.

The staff quarters in question was built during the regime of David Medayese Jemibewon, a retired Nigerian Army major general who served as military governor of the defunct Western State (August 1975 – March 1976) during the military regime of General Murtala Muhammed to accommodate and support the staff of the station.

The Pacesetter News understands that there are 48 (forty-eight) members of staff and their family members living in the staff quarters. The quarters also accomodates some staff members on night shifts or who work till 1am.

 

The unions leader lamented that Governor Seyi Makinde’s move is a misplaced priority.

“It is true we heard about the demolition but we never believed it until Makinde asked his people to come and demolish it on Monday.

“How can Makinde add to the suffering of workers? We don’t know what the government is planning to do here but he has decided to demolish it. We are here to resist the attempt.

“As we speak, we have not moved our things out of the staff quaters. How much is our salary? Out of about 36 editorial workers, 22 are not full staff members. We wrote many letters to the governor but he did not give them jobs.

“The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) had several times pushed for the regularisarion of their appointments but nothing happened. Yet, Makinde decided to demolish the staff quarters. This is absolute bunkum! We won’t accept it,” they said