(Banner Media Network spoke with the DBS, Asaba chapter chairman of
the Radion, Television Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU),
Comrade Pere Botu on the state of the unions in Delta State. In the interview
with our publisher, CHUKWUDI ABIANDU
he revealed why the DBS transmits from Ubulu-uku, and how the government of
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is tackling the problem. Below are excerpts).
Q: How will you
describe the state of your union today?
Ans: Our union, Radio, Television Theatre and Arts Workers
Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), both at the Federal and State chapter levels is a
very vibrant union. Ours is about television and radio.
Before the end of the Uduaghan administration, we had
different issues, which bothered on the digitization of Delta Broadcasting
Service (DBS), Warri and Asaba. We had issues and were not comfortable with
them. We wrote a letter to the then state governor, Uduaghan, and he invited
us. We met with him at about 9pm in his house, and it lasted close to about two
hours. We discussed certain issues and he agreed that he was going to see what
he would do to address those issues. But time two was not on his side because
he had about six or seven more days to leave office after that meeting. But the
fallout of that meeting was that we got a bus and a Hilux van. Because we
didn’t have enough vehicles to do staff shuttle; the vehicles were for DBS
office use, and not for RATTAWU as a union. DBS Warri also got the same.
Q. What are the
issues that inspired your meeting with the former governor?
Some of the issues were that we were not comfortable with
the contractors handling the DBS project. The projects have been running for
two to three years, and yet we have not been able to hit the airwaves as we are
supposed to do. Note that we are a state organ, the mouth piece of government.
We must sensitize the people; we must carry out the policies and programmes of
the state government to the grassroots through radio and television. Even as we
speak now, DBS as a station, we are transmitting from Ubulu-uku end, not even
Asaba. It is because of the digitization issue that we have. Although Governor
Ifeanyi Okowa is already on it, and people are already working on the
transmitters, and other areas to ensure that we return to Asaba for full
transmission. Our workers, every day by 3 pm leave Asaba for Ubulu-uku, then by
7 pm, our news crew will now leave with all our edited news, tapes and the rest
to Ubulu-uku, because that’s where we transmit from. They don’t receive us in
Asaba. Why? Unless we have an external antenna. And for us, broadcasting has
gone beyond that.
Gone are those days when we used to have black and white
television. Broadcasting is 24 hours now. Why would a state government
broadcast station not even be able to broadcast up to 10 hours a day? We start
transmission at about 4 pm and we close at about 11 pm. How many hours is that?
It is not even enough. But when we would have returned to Asaba, we can do
more. Even our radio, our reach is also very, very far. Presently, our radio is
very good. These were some of the issues we took to former governor Uduaghan,
when he was still on the saddle, but he could not really attend to all of them
before he left. Thank God, now that Governor Okowa started in that direction
and work is already on-going, and we hope that very shortly, the station will
be back and transmitting.
So, on the question about the state of our union, our union
is a very vibrant union, at the Federal state and chapter levels. But
sometimes, people, especially workers always expect that only when you see
labour leaders carry placards, or closing the gates of organizations or
establishments that’s when union leaders are working. Take note that when any
issue develops, we first of all dialogue with it; we also raise ultimatums.
When the ultimatums are not met, that is when union can now come with statement
that we are shutting down operations, or we are going to carry placards to
demonstrate publicly to show our grievances. Also, know that for the first
time, we also have two chapters of the NLC at the Federal level. One led by
Comrade Ayuba Waba, and one led by Comrade J. Ajero, as fallout of the last
election. We have two unions running at that end. So, that condition is
affecting the states, and also affecting it at the Federal level. Because my
union (RATTAWU) is in support of the Comrade Ayuba Waba led faction.. We are
towing that line. If other issues come up led by the other faction, we might
not tow that line because our union is not in tandem with them. I want to use
this opportunity to also call on our past NLC leaders, like comrade Adams
Oshiomhole, and other top labour leaders to be united so that we can become
one. For it is only when we can become one that’s when our voice can be heard;
that’s when we can be strong, and that’s when we can fight for the cause of our
workers, and that’s when we can fight for the cause of the Nigerian worker.
Q: You are aware of
the civil servants in Delta State are not happy with the issue of the recent
stoppage of the Special Duty Allowance (SDA). Are you aware of the stoppage in
payment of SDA to workers in the state? (Editor’s note: This interview took place
before the Government restored the SDA).
Ans: I am aware of it. I understand that people in
Government House, Deputy Governor’s office, the judiciary and the House of
assembly enjoy this allowance because of their work schedules. Owing to the
economic meltdown in the country, I understand that the state government is
trying to review the SDAs, to make sure it is feasible, so that it can continue
to pay. I understand that even the Housed of assembly, the Speaker addressed
the workers that the SDA has not been cancelled but suspended temporarily so
that they can look at it and ascertain who is benefitting from it.
Even my own union, our check off due is not coming as at
when due. Why? Because the state government has also directed that we should
get details of how much they contribute and the rest. As at 23rd of
March, 2016, we’ve not gotten our check off dues for January 2016. So, how do
we run the union? All this is as a result of the economic situation we are in.
But I know that this is part of the phase of life, and even in the union. We
will pass over this and we will come to our canaan land.
Q: The workers say they are disgruntled with the fact that
they are being made to suffer on account of the poor financial position of the
state?
Ans: The union leadership at the state level should go and
dialogue, by taking up the issue very seriously with the state government. Even
the leave grant, former governor Uduaghan spread the payment over 12 months.
That was what workers used to receive in bulk when going on leave. And it was
really bulky, and it helped to solve one or two problems. But Uduaghan spread
it over 12 months such that when you are collecting it, it has lost value.
The SDA is what is helping a lot of workers that mortgaged
their salaries through taking co-operative loans, bank loans and the rest. So
that the SDA is what kind of augment for them against mortgage deductions. So,
removing it will be too hard on workers. The SDA is a motivational allowance for
workers, so government should not discard it. I want to call on our union
leadership to look into it so that we will not have any labour crisis in the
state.
Editor’s note: The suspended SDA has since been restored back to
workers.
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