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By Sunday Ani
Spokesman of the Concerned Stakeholders of National Theatre, Lekan Ayinde, has expressed displeasure and fear over the demeaning staff welfare and hostile work environment at the parastatal.
Ayinde expressed this concern following claims by the former General Manager of the parastatal, Prof. Sunday Ododo, that workers’ welfare was prioritised under his watch.
Ayinde alleged that workers of the parastatal have never had it so bad in the last three years of Prof Ododo’s tenure in welfare packages, intimidation and training.
Citing instances of how workers were denied of their rights, contrary to claims by Ododo that workers were given Christmas and Sallah packages every year, he said the last time such was given to workers was in 2021, by the contractors handling projects at the parastatal at the time.
He stated: “Like we have been saying, the work environment is hostile to growth. Workers are complaining. They are intimidated and harassed by the management. We have many of them that were arrested and detained by Prof Ododo while others were demoted.
“It is, therefore, surprising that these are the same set of workers he claimed hosted him to a send-forth party where only his allies were present, while senior officers and union leaders absented themselves.
“In fact, workers were deceived to attend the send-forth party because the message that was sent suggested a meeting between the workers and the new CEO, but on getting to the venue, they turned it to a send-forth party for the former General Manager and the few workers that attended left the venue in anger.
“On Friday, Prof Ododo commissioned two mini buses and one tricycle to be shuttling between National Theatre and Costain bus stop after he has been removed from office. This commissioning needs to be queried and investigated. Such should not be done after he had been removed from office.
“The former GM is taking advantage of the absence of the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hajia Hanatu Musawa, and the new CEO of the parastatal, Mrs Tola Akerele, who are far away in Dafur on official assignment to remain in office since there is nobody to call him to order.
“We are, therefore, calling on the ICPC, EFCC and the DSS to investigate his illegal stay in office, and all the monies expended on the supposed send-forth and the purchase of the mini buses and tricycle.”
Ayinde appealed to the new CEO to look into workers’ welfare, saying, “Workers deserve a better deal. This is why we have high hope in the incoming administration of Mrs Akerele to right the wrongs, bring about necessary changes, and address all issues relating to workers’ welfare and condition of service.”
While highlighting some of his achievements, Prof Sunday Ododo acknowledged that the achievements of his regime would not have been possible without the support of the staff.
He noted that all his initiatives like the staff training, and openness to staff which he introduced during his tenure would outlive his him.
