Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo state chapter under the leadership of Comr. Ademola Babalola has reassured all sacked staff members of Inspiration 100.5 FM Ibadan that all outstanding issues will be looked into by the union.
According to a statement made available to pressmen, Babalola disclosed that the rule of engagement of the affected workers was met by the management of Inspiration FM, Ibadan.
The union also seized the opportunity to specially congratulate Comrade Jadesola Ajibola, the NAWOJ chairperson on her elevation and appointment as the General Manager of the station.
The statement reads:
Dear Affected Colleagues in Inspiration FM’s recent Mass Sack,
Happy Sunday and let’s be thankful for the gift of life!
This is to express my concern over your recent experience in the hand of the Management of Inspiration FM, which culminated in the reported sack of about 85% of the workforce therein.
Since that incident, I have been receiving messages and calls on what the Union can do to possibly asked the management to ‘rewind the hand of clock and reverse the said retrenchment’?
But we have come to the inevitable reality that the rule of engagement of the affected workers was met by the management especially the reported payment of one month in lieu of notice for the termination of their appointments.
Other areas like December 2021 unpaid salary and arrears of alleged 5years deducted pensions that were not remitted can then be looked into by the management with NUJ’s involvement provided all these claims were genuinely agreed upon by both parties upon employment.
It is a trying period for us in the media and indeed other sectors of the nation’s economy. Virtually all media houses in the country are having one teething problem or the other and this calls for concern of all the stakeholders.
Going forward, I pray for God’s grace and abiding mercy for you all in a way that you will receive favours where you least expect it. Amen.
God will provide all your needs and grant you eternal blessings to recover all your past eluded favours (amen).
This is a warning and strong signal to all of us that we must desist forthwith in putting our heads in a basket. Let us begin to diversify and further in our education too because very soon, there will be more lecturing jobs for eligible journalists in the country with the imminent ‘unbundling of Mass Communication study’ into several courses; PR, Advertising; Journalism and so on.
Apart from that, let’s also look inward and engage in some businesses to shore our monetary needs for better parenting in a traumatized and hurting economy.
In the same token, this is to specially congratulate our own, Jadesola Ajibola, the NAWOJ chairperson on her elevation cum appointment as the General Manager of this ailing radio station.
I pray for divine wisdom, knowledge and grace to navigate through the tasking responsibility ahead of you.
May you succeed head on and kindly look into the possibility of re-engaging some wonderful and capable hands from amongst the sacked colleagues that can make your job successful, going forward.
Colleagues, it is well with us all. Amen
e-Signed:
Ademola Babalola (DEMBAB)
Oyo State NUJ Chairman
October 9, 2022
2022-10-10