The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria, RATTAWU, has called on the federal and state governments as well as development partners to urgently find ways of ameliorating the pains and hardship Nigerians are undergoing at this time.
The call came at the end of the National Executive Council Meeting of the Union held on Monday 25th September, 2023, in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
The body in a communique signed by the National President, Dr Kabir Tsanni and the General Secretary, Comrade Akpausoh Akpausoh observed that there was widespread hardship due to the inflationary cost of living occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy without adequate Cushioning palliatives, adding that the situation was being compounded by violation of human rights and widespread insecurity.
It called on the government to therefore as a matter of urgency resolve the situation while suggesting payment of award allowances to all waged workers, without delay, revamping the country’s refineries, and drastically cutting the cost of governance, which it said had become imperative.
The union, among other things, decried the seeming polarization of labour in the country, saying for no reason should labour unions be seen as working at cross purposes, as the civic space appeared to be the only hope of the common man.
It clarified that weigh-in allowances were meant for only the RATTAWU and the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, adding that anyone outside the fold of the two unions were not qualified for the benefit.
The body urged unions in the states which were yet to start paying the weigh in allowances to deploy specialised skills of lobbying and diplomacy in all negotiations, even as it would do all within its powers to protect the benefit, which was achieved by a court judgment.The event featured among other activities the conferment of RATTAWU MAN OF THE YEAR (2023) AWARD on Chief Sir Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu, for his humanitarian gesture.
The NEC meeting was attended by the National Deputy President, Comrade Innocent ofuonyeadi ; the South South Women leader; Comrade Ezon-Ebi Odumosu; the Delta State Chairman, Comrade Charles Enegide; and the State Secretary, Comrade Edwin Okiemute Ekpri.