of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower
FM Radio, on Wednesday shut down all broadcasting
activities at the Benin studio in protest over unpaid
salaries.
The protesting workers were said to have blocked the
main entrance to the station located along the Benin/
Lagos bypass.
A detachment of anti-riot policemen were however called
by the management of the station to forestall any break
down of law.
It was gathered that the protesting workers put at 50 of
AIT and Ray Power, were owed salaries salaries spanning
between 12 and 17 months.
One of the protesting workers who did not want his
name in print for personal reasons, said newly employed
staff of AIT were being owed 12 months while old staff
were yet to be paid salaries between 13 months and staff
of the Raypower FM, the Radio arm of the broadcast
outfit were owed 17 months.
“The stations generate millions of naira on a daily basis,
so there is no reason why we should not be paid our
salaries. They have no excuse not to pay us our money.
It is share wickedness and man’s inhumanity to his
fellow man. We have families to care for and children to
pay their school fees. Many of our children have stopped
going to school. But their own attend schools abroad.
“Look at where our station is located, in another village
so far away from Benin City. You have to chatter a taxi
carb for not less than N500.00 to get there if you miss
the staff bus.
And not even every cab driver will agree to go there
because of the wrong location of the station, yet, they
expect us to be there everyday, whether you have
anything to do or not,” the source told
Chairman of the organization, Raymond Dokpesi (Jnr)
was said to have spoken to the protesters on phone.
He allegedly appealed for calm, assuring them that the
management will within one week do everything possible
to pay parts of the salary arrears.
He however allegedly threatened to pay-off any of the
staff that decided to resign from the establishment.
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