The Joint Union in the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has given the Managing Director 7 days ultimatum to address the lack of welfare, operational needs and the sorry state of affairs in the agency.
The Joint Union comprise of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Radio, Television, Theatre Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service Employees(AUPCTRE) and Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporation and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC)
This is contain in a letter to the Managing Director titled “7 DAYS NOTICE/ULTIMATUM TO ADDRESS OPERATIONAL NEEDS, WELFARE ISSUES” dated 22nd December, 2022.
The letter was signed by the Chairman of NAN NUJ, Collins Yakubu-Hammer, his secretary, Ikenna Nwadileke, the Vice and Acting Chairman of AUPCTRE in NAN, Ahmed Umar and the Asst Secretary of AUPCTRE, Ayuba Haruna respectively.
Others that signed are the President of SSASCGOC in NAN, Mrs Ogechi James and her Secretary, Miss Efe Ekpruke and the Chairman of RATTAWU, Ayodeji Fadipe and his Vice Chairman, Hamza Ibrahim respectively.
They said members of the Joint Union in the Agency met on Wednesday 21, December, 2022 and resolved to serve the management seven days notice to address the staff’s grievances on or before 4th January, 2023.
“Members observed that over the years, the management has failed to live up to its obligations in the areas of welfare, providing work tools, working conditions and capacity development.
“When Mr Buki Ponle assumed duty as MD of NAN on 1st September, 2020, he promised us that the good old days of former MD, late Mrs Oluremi Oyo has come back, and he would ensure that all workers are happy, but today things have gotten worst in the agency with the daily mantra of ‘No Money’, by the DFA, even when we can see them spending the money on some management staff.
“The Joint Union Congress hereby demand that the the management should kindly provide all staff with December Welfare Package as been done in the parent Ministry of Information and Culture, its parastatals and other Government Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs)
“Clear the backlog of allowances owned staff, including transportation allowance for reporters, Editors and Marketers, data allowance for Editors and Controllers, as well as other claims owned workers.
“Management should reduce the numbers of casual staff and stop further employment of casual staff, because, there are members of staff who can equally do the work that casual staff are doing. Also, Casual Staff constitute a heavy financial burden to the agency at the expense of operational expenditures.
“They are too large and redundant without doing any vital work to add value to the organisation.
“Management should replace the three dead UPS in the Technical Department. The dead UPS can no longer service the Newsroom and as such, negatively affecting production.
“Management should provide working tools like computers, send staff for professional trainings to enhance their capacity and improve on the working conditions in the Agency,” they said.
The joint union also demanded that Management should fast-track the process of securing the much awaited Peculiarity Allowance and honestly carry all the unions along in the income and expenditures of the agency.
They also added that the management should note that the seven days ultimatum is with effect from 22nd December, 2022 to 4th January, 2023.
The joint union members lamented the lack of welfare in the agency, stressing that the yuletide season where staff are suppose to be going home happy, but NAN staff in spite of their hard work and the hazard of their job, they would go home without even a seed of rice to celebrate the Christmas and New Year.
