The Kwara State Council, Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) has issued a 21-day notice beginning from 12.00am of Monday 27^thNovember, till 11.59pm of 17^thDecember 2023 to the State Government to address its demands.

The Council In a letter addressed to Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq titled “NOTICE OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION” and copied the Kwara State Deputy Governor, Kwara State Head of Service, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employments, Commissioner for Communication and Culture, RATTAWU National Secretariat, Vice President North Central RATTAWU, RATTAWU ZOS Kwara State, Nigeria Labour Congress, S. A. Labour to the Governor, General Manager, Radio Kwara, General Manager, Kwara Television Authority,General Manager, The Herald Newspapers, Director, Kwara State Art and Culture, Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) and Commissioner of Police, Kwara State, the Union said it cannot guarantee Industrial harmony in the State Owned Media Houses and Cultural Centres beginning from 12.00am, December 18^th, 2023.

The letter signed by Its Chairman and Secretary, Comrade Usman Oke and Comrade Yusuf Mubaraq, respectively, threatened that there would be a total lockdown of these places due to strike action that would commence by then if the demands are not addressed by the Government and relevant bodies.

“We do solemnly believe that Your Excellency, being a progressive and a friend of Labour would fondly approve and look into our demands that it will not degenerate further than this, “ it stated.

The Union explained further “I bring you greetings from the leadership of RATTAWU the largest umbrella body for workers in the arts, culture and broadcast media sector. Sequel to our previous correspondence to you dated 14^thAugust 2023 in which some salient issues seriously bothering the state media houses and cultural sector were highlighted for your due consideration and approval; some of them which are listed below: 1. Media workers should be considered as essential workers and treated in like manners (in all ramifications) as their colleagues in the health sector. (The Labour Act Cap. T8 Section 7 of the labour law of the federation clearly identifies the media as part of the essential workforce. Kindly find this extant law).”

Other demands include “Media workers in State are being short payed of their weigh-in-allowance in accordance with the national minimum wages, Non-payment of weigh-in-allowance to Kwara State Council for Arts & Culture. (Attached along is a document of weigh-in-allowance as approved), Normalization of the appropriate percentage of weigh-in-allowance in accordance to the N30,000 minimum wage to staff of Radio Kwara and Kwara TV.

Others are the stagnation of staff of the media houses at a “peak level 16” not allowing them to reach the peak of their careers, to as a matter of urgency equip Midland FM studio and that of Kakakin to enhance the quality of the output signal, yearly incremental step for our members in the media and culture centre and Non imposition of Corporation Secretary on State Media organization, as we have competent hands that can serve in such capacity. (Attached along, a copy of Cap K52 [3a).

“The SEC and leadership of RATTAWU in Kwara State arising from its meeting having considered the fact that all our requests and demands have not been considered and looked into by the Government, therefore, wishes to formally notify you of the following resolutions and that we can no longer put-up with these challenges, as enumerated above, since they are inimical to the growth of both State-owned Media Houses and cultural centres.

Thank you, sir,” it ended.