Bayelsa wades into labour crisis at its radio station

The Bayelsa State Government has waded into the industrial crisis over certificate verification at Radio Bayelsa ordered by the new general manager for the station.
The workers of Radio Bayelsa on Monday shunned the certificate verification exercise ordered by the General Manager, Dr. John Idumange.
John Angese, the Chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday that the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Talford Ongolo, convened a meeting to resolve the conflict.
The workers had issued a seven-day ultimatum, which lapsed on January 10, to the station’s general manager to suspend the certificate verification and restore industrial harmony.
The workers, under the aegis of the NUJ and the Radio and Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union, resolved to shun the certificate verification after a joint congress of RATTAWU and NUJ.
Angese said the meeting, held at the Bayelsa State Government House on Tuesday, was attended by the general manager of the station, representatives of NUJ and RATTAWU and the Information Commissioner, Jonathan Obuebite, among others.
He said the meeting resolved to suspend the verification, while Idumange was urged to convene a meeting to resolve contentious issues with staff.
He said: “We had a tense meeting at the Government House presided over by the Chief of Staff.
“They asked us to go back and work together with a six-point resolution, which includes that the general manager should hold meetings with staff.
“That the verification should be suspended till the meeting with staff was held, while NUJ and RATTAWU should each have a nominee to conduct the certificate verification.
“The general manager was also asked to review appointments of junior officers above their superiors in breach of Public Service Rules.”
Meanwhile, Tonye Yemoleigha and Pius Otiti, Radio Bayelsa Chapel Chairmen of NUJ and RATTAWU respectively, in a joint statement urged the workforce to accept the outcome of the peace talks.
The unions urged the workers to remain dedicated to duty, and assured them that their collective interest and welfare would be protected.
NAN.