Staff of the Bayelsa Broadcasting Corporation, have called on the state government to compel the General Manager of the station to step down to allow for investigations into Tuesday’s fire incident.
Recall that the state’s radio station (Glory FM) was gutted by an inferno which destroyed broadcast equipment though the staff who were on duty escaped unhurt.
The general manager of the station, Dr. John Idumange, in reaction to the incident had alleged sabotage by some staff.
However, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and the Radio Television Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria, RATTAWU, condemned the GM’s position as hasty.
In a statement on Friday in Yanegoa, both unions said the GM’s comments would jeopardise ongoing investigations by a committee set up by government.
The statement signed by the Chairmen of station’s chapters of the NUJ and RATTAWU Kingsley Abidde, and Otiti Pius, respectively urged the GM to exercise restraint, while calling on government to include union representatives on the panel.
The statement read in part: “To this end, the Joint Union is calling on government to persuade the GM to step aside to enable the panel of inquiry to judiciously carry out its investigation into the cause of the fire without the influence of the GM.
“The General Manager should also be advised to desist from making unguarded public utterances to overheat the already tense environment, as it is prejudice and premature to talk about sabotage at this stage.
“At this stage when an investigative panel is already set up by government to ascertain the remote and immediate cause(s) of the inferno, such comments amount to prejudice.
“We also use this medium to call on government to ensure that union representatives are part of the panel for objectivity and fairness, in line with internationally accepted best practice.
“The unions wish to encourage members to remain calm as investigation by the panel of inquiry is expected to assume duty.
“We further appeal to government to match words with action in their promise to put in place a temporary studio and other equipment to bring the station back on air.
“The unions sympathise with the state government over the unfortunate fire incident that occurred on Tuesday, July 2, 2019.
“We express gratitude to the state Commissioner of Information, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, for his prompt response during the ugly incident and the state Fire Service for containing the inferno and salvaging the transmitter,” the unions said.
NAN
