Media practitioners in Ondo State, under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) says, it is passing a vote of ‘no confidence,’ on the Leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.
Media practitioners in Ondo State, under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) says, it is passing a vote of ‘no confidence,’ on the Leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.
The State members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm had accused the leaders of the Labour Union in the state chapter, of a "nonchalant attitude' to the welfare of journalists in the state.
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SaharaReporters learned that the umbrella body of the Nigeria Union of Journalists is an affiliate union of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the NLC, and its pulling out of the Congress with a vow to boycott all activities of the Labour Union in the state until further notice.
A communiqué signed and issued by the State NUJ Chairman, Akinfolayan Owanikin, at the end of the 'monthly congress' in Akure, had directed all members of the pen profession not to participate in any Nigeria Labour Congress related activities, nor give coverage of its event.
It also warned its members from participating in the massive rally holding next month, in May, tagged 'May Day', and schedule to be held in the streets of Akure, the state capital.
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Citing the recent impasse between media workers in the state-owned broadcasting station, Ondo State Radiovision Corporation, the OSRC, where some of its members were arrested and detained for protesting the alleged unbearable working conditions in the state government-owned media outfit, the NUJ executives said, the leadership of the union refused to support the workers, and kept ‘a deaf ear,’ even after consulting with them.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the NLC in the state, led by Mrs. Bosede Daramola, had been ‘hoodwinked’ by the state government.
"The woman is only working on behalf of the state governor. She has no power of her own to decide on issues. Even, during the election of the Union in the state, Mimiko played a role that she should emerge as the chairperson. She doesn't have a bold heart of a lion, and she is the fearful type" a source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
A member of the executive in the NUJ told SaharaReporters at the weekend that the union took the decision after reviewing the recent events in the state, which NLC leadership in the state allegedly failed to play any meaningful role in protecting the interests of journalists in the state.
“Despite the fact that we carried along the NLC State Chairman, Mrs. Bosede Daramola, from the onset on the issue of OSRC, she refused to intervene in the crisis. When the government set up a panel on the matter, the NLC refused to submit its position paper, or make any representation to the panel despite our pleas.
“This is, of course, is not the first time that the NLC would turn its back to the NUJ when it needs it most. In recent years, there have been many incidents involving journalists in the state in which the NLC refused to play any role,” another member of the NUJ further alleged.
“Despite the fact that we carried along the NLC State Chairman, Mrs Bosede Daramola, from the onset on the issue of OSRC, she refused to intervene in the crisis. When the government set up a panel on the matter, the NLC refused to submit its position paper or make any representation to the panel despite our pleas.
“This is, of course, not the first time that the NLC would turn its back to the NUJ when it needs it most. In recent years, there have been many incidents involving journalists in the state in which the NLC would refuse to play any role,” another source told SaharaReporters.
“One of those was the assault on a cameraman, at a May Day Rally, by policemen a few years ago that led to the death of the cameraman, while the NLC chairman often refuses to mention the plights of NUJ members in her speech during Workers Day events. The union, therefore, condemns in strong terms, the insensitivity of the NLC to the plights of NUJ members in the state,” another source told us speaking on the condition of anonymity.
A SaharaReporters investigation revealed that the State NLC has no functional social media page unlike the NUJ which has a not-too-updated page, nor an avenue for his members to relate and pass information across.
It was also learned that the State Chairperson of the NLC, Mrs. Bosede Daramola, had for some time kept mute over injustices on workers in the state. One example was seen during the protest of the Contributing Pension Scheme in the state.
Many workers had also accused her of not being ‘up to the task’ of being an activist because, she is ‘slow in talk,’ and doesn't have the spirit of a Comrade.
"She is just a figure head in the NLC, she doesn't know how to organize, or fight, the government over injustice on workers. The welfare of the state has always not been in her heart," a source told SaharaReporters.
With all the allegations, SaharaReporters visited the social media page of the NLC chairperson and found out, she only uses her personal page for scriptures to quote, meaning she might be grounded in a spiritual role, than the comradeship.
Many quotes of the Christendom were seen on her social media pages.
Efforts to speak with her, as at the time of filing this report, proved unsuccessful, as her number was busy, or not reachable.
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