By Philip Nwosu
The Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has declared its determination, alongside other labour unions, to resist any attempt by the Lagos State Government to intimidate or blackmail them regarding the ongoing strike by state media workers.
The NUJ’s statement follows a publication in a national daily on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, in which the Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr Afolabi Ayantayo, accused the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), NUJ, and the Radio, Television, Theatre, and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) of preventing staff at Lagos Television (LTV), Radio Lagos/Eko FM, and Lagos Traffic Radio from carrying out their duties.
Refuting the allegation, the unions stated that management at the affected media outlets had coerced some workers into reporting to work under threat, despite the ongoing strike action. In a joint statement signed by NUJ Lagos State Chairman, Comrade Adeleye Ajayi, and Assistant Secretary, Comrade Olayide Awosanya, the unions described such tactics as unacceptable and vowed to protect their members’ rights.
“Workers have the right to protest in order to press home their demands without any intimidation or fear,” the statement read. “Any attempt to blackmail the unions will be greatly resisted, as our members deserve to enjoy all benefits extended to other workers in Lagos State.”
The unions reaffirmed their commitment to the three-day warning strike, which began on January 13, 2025, and emphasised that the action would continue until their demands are met. They also warned that failure by the government to address their grievances could result in an indefinite strike that would shut down all affected stations.
Media Workers’ Demands
The striking media workers are pressing for the following:
- Payment of the newly-implemented minimum wage.
- Remittance of their pension contributions.
- Adequate training and capacity-building programmes for staff.
- Integration into the Oracle database for efficient payment and performance-based management.
A protesting worker, who requested anonymity, highlighted the challenges faced by media workers, stating, “We have many bills to pay and should not be allowed to wallow in penury.”
Other workers lamented the lack of career progression, citing that administrative, financial, and managerial positions in their organisations are often filled by personnel brought in from the Lagos State Secretariat in Alausa.
“You cannot rise to become the Head of Administration, Finance, or even the General Manager—they bring them from Alausa. This is the level of stagnation we are facing,” one worker stated.
The unions also questioned why media workers, who are state government employees, have not been integrated into the Oracle database, which is used for efficient payment and performance management of other government staff.
The unions called on the Lagos State Government to address these pressing issues, warning that failure to act could escalate the situation further. “They should look into our demands and work towards implementing them, or else we will continue the strike,” the unions stated.
As the three-day warning strike continues, all eyes are on the Lagos State Government to resolve the grievances and avert a prolonged industrial action that could disrupt state-owned media operations.