NUJ protests sack of 222 media workers in Bayelsa

THE Bayelsa Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Wednesday condemned the sack of 222 workers of the state-owned media organisations.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that 86 staff of New Waves Newspaper and 136 workers of Radio Bayelsa were affected from the list so far released while staffs of the state television station remain apprehensive.

A statement from the NUJ urged the state government to review its decision to sack the over 200 media workers under the guise of redeployment.

NAN reports that the state Head of Service had directed heads of media organisations to forward their excess staffs for redeployment.

A statement jointly signed by the Bayelsa NUJ Chairman, Mr John Angese and Secretary, Mr Stanley Imgbi said the union and other labour leaders in the state were not privy to the exercise

The NUJ faulted the parameter used to determine the redundant staffs, saying it was shrouded in secrecy as the best hands have been affected in the exercise.

According to the statement, the output of the media houses would be affected, as professionalism and competence were not considered while compiling the list.

The union maintained that the directive to stop salaries of the affected workers from the April 2018 was in breach of civil service rule and other labour laws.

It said that the stoppage of the salaries has clearly shown that the exercise was meant to sack the workers.

The NUJ said that the government should review the decision due to its social and economic implications on the affected workers and their families.

ALSO READ: NYSC DG restates importance of orientation exercise

The statement said that the union would convene an emergency congress to adopt a strategy on how to confront the issue.

NAN recalls that the state government has embarked on the reform of the public service to tackle employment racketeering and payroll fraud.

The state Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (Rtd) had assured that genuine workers would not be affected.

According to him, the reform will target those employed through fraudulent means, redundant and truant workers.

The government had announced on November 7, 2017, that it withheld the October 2017 salary of 4, 202 civil servants allegedly involved in irregularities.