Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Members of staff of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Enugu Zonal office, on Friday called on the Director General, Dr Mansur Liman, to save the station from total collapse.
The protest which was organised by in-house unions of the station, RATTAWU and NUJ was aimed at drawing the attention of the DG to critical challenges affecting the smooth operations of the station.
The unions also alleged high handedness in the services of the station by the outgoing Zonal Director, Mr Emmanuel Inegbedion.
The unions alleged that the problems of the station started since the Zonal Director assumed office two years ago..
In a statement jointly signed by Mr Godwin Ogwo, Chairman RATTAWU and Mr Obinna Ogbuka, Chairman NUJ, the union expressed fear over imminent collapse of the station’s operations.
“As a result of poor signal/reception/constant dead air due to obsolete and poor maintenance of facilities, including the live studio which has become an embarrassment to the corporate image of the station (sic),” they said.
The unions also said that the zonal station was currently transmitting less than one killwatt as against normal 20 kilowatts of normal transmission, not minding the busy nature of commercial belt.
“This is unacceptable and we call on the management to rise up to the challenge,” the unions said.
The unions further called on the DG FRCN to redeem the image of the station as all the official vehicles of deputy directors including operational ones are currently grounded.
“It is regrettable that the only functional operational vehicle in the entire station was Toyota Camry Car currently being used by the outgoing zonal director.
“Therefore, any attempt to auction it portends doom for the station and the zone,” they said.
The unions lamented the ongoing plans to auction FRCN vehicles and other operational equipment without plans to replace them.
The unions urged the Director General to quickly intervene in order to restore the station to its glory days.
In his reaction, the Deputy Director in charge of administration, Mr Innocent Egwuagu, said that the management was aware of the complaints and is doing its best to address them.
He urged the staff to bear with the management, adding that their petitions/complaints were receiving the DG,s attention.
