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Nigeria: RATTAWU, NUJ Threaten Strike Over Monetization
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Daily Trust (Abuja)
25 July 2008
Posted to the web 25 July 2008
Abdul-Rahman Abubakar
The Amalgamated Union of Radio Television and Theatre Art Workers Union (RATTAWU) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have vowed to commence strike action Monday over government's failure to pay 33 months' monetization arrears. The strike is likely to cripple broadcast by government television and radio stations.
Speaking during a meeting with members of Senate Committee on Information and Media leaders of the unions said the strike will commence after the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum for pay the arrears.
They told the Senate Committee that government failed to pay 33 months monetization arrears owed to members of the unions after entering an agreement with leadership of NUJ and RATTAWU.
The amalgamated unions said, "It will be foolhardy to call our bluff this time around. We are appealing to you to use your good office to approach the Executive to remedy the already bad situation.
The 21 day ultimatum given to the Federal government ends on Monday next week after which we will have no option than to embark on indefinite action to press home our demand."
Responding, Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Ayogu Eze (PDP, Enugu North) pleaded with the unions to suspend their planned strike action to allow further dialogue with government.
He said, "Please this is an opportunity to allow Senate to deal with the matter. Give us two weeks to meet with the stakeholders including the Secretary to the Government, of the Federation (SGF) to work modality for the payment of the backlog."
Senator Eze said, "We can't imagine the implication of shutting down a radio and television. Without the press, there is no democracy. We can't toil with your work."
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But the amalgamated union led by National Secretary of NUJ Mr. Shuaibu Leman and National President of RATTA-WU Yemisi Bamgbose said the strike action must commence according to plan by Monday.
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