Outrage As Radio Bayelsa Manager Flogs Members Of Staff On Duty

The manager of Radio Bayelsa, known as Glory FM, John Idumange on Thursday, flogged four members of staff of the station on duty, introducing a new twist into the industrial dispute ongoing at the station.

The Radio Bayelsa chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ) and Radio Television and Theatre Arts Workers Unions (RATTAWU) consequently shut the radio station.

Speaking to News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday, Tonye Yemoleigha, NUJ chairman in Radio Bayelsa, narrated that he and three female staff were caned by the general manager of the Station.

Yemoleigha in his words said, "Four of us, myself and three female staff were flogged by Idumange himself. The report that it was thugs is inaccurate. It was the general manager himself. The blisters on the skin are more severe for the ladies."

"We have reported the matter to the Ekeki Police Division and sought medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa. Workers have been constantly intimidated and threatened for no just cause."

Idumange who declined to comment on the allegation that he caned the four members of staff, however, told NAN that there was no going back on his reform efforts.

“This small radio station has 346 workers; employment and job placement have never followed due process, we are currently reorganising the place and they are resisting our efforts,” he said.

“Those ghost workers must be fished out and the payroll cleaned up.

“The wage bill of the station is N35 million monthly and it is not sustainable. My predecessor incurred a debt of N40 million.

“The unions are being instigated by the heads of department affected in the illegal recruitment, and those who came into that place through the back door.”