The administration of Lagos State Authorities-owned broadcast stations has condemned the latest violent actions by placing union members, which disrupted operations and compelled the stations off-air for 48 hours.
In an announcement issued on Tuesday by the Head of Service, Institutions and Coaching, Afolabi Ayantayo, it was disclosed that the affected stations—Lagos Tv, Radio Lagos/Eko 89.7FM, and Visitors Radio—have been attacked on Monday by employees allegedly affiliated with the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Radio, Tv, Theatre, and Arts Staff Union, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
The assertion famous that placing employees reportedly vandalised studio doorways, assaulted on-air presenters, switched off transmitters, and severed cables in an try to implement the strike.
“The stations—LTV, Radio Lagos/Eko 89.7FM, and Visitors Radio—have been compelled off-air for 48 hours by employees who destroyed studio doorways and assaulted presenters. They switched off transmitters and severed cables in unprecedented acts of violence, captured on video. Many employees have been additionally whipped for refusing to hitch the strike, which aimed to stress the federal government into inserting about 400 employees on the civil service payroll,” the assertion learn.
Describing the incident as unprecedented, the station managers expressed their disappointment with the unions’ method.
“Regardless of the State Authorities’s open communication channels, the management of NLC, RATTAWU, and NUJ selected the trail of violence—each in phrases and actions,” the managers mentioned within the assertion.
They additional described the strike as not solely an assault on the published stations but in addition a present of disrespect in the direction of state authorities.
“The strike, which the managers have described as an assault and an indication of disrespect for the authorities, has raised doubts concerning the management of the NLC, RATTAWU, and NUJ in Lagos being dedicated to an amicable decision of the disaster.”
The assertion added that the union leaders have been invited to a different assembly scheduled for Wednesday, 15 January 2025, to debate the problems in dispute.