From Ochei Matthew, Asaba
The Delta state chapter of Radio Television Theatre and Art Workers Union of Nigeria(RATTAWU) has lamented the state of facilities in state-owned media houses in the state.
The out-going chairman of the RATTAWU Delta state, Comrade Innocent Ofoeyenadi, stated this at the labour house on Thursday during the fourth quadrennial delegates conference in Asaba.
Comrade Ofoeyenadi lamented the manner Delta state government is pumping money into private media houses like AIT, Channel TV and others, leaving its own in a pathetic situation.
His words: “As I speak to you now, our stations are not working properly. Delta does not have a cultural centre where we perform. Everyday Nigeria is turning out graduates of mass communication and theatre arts, where are they going to practice. But if you have a theatre, people and the government can make money from it like India and other countries.
“Government is paying lips service to this. Deltans cast the vote and they need to know what is happening in the area before Abuja and Lagos. So, the state ought to have invested in its own media houses before patronising others.”
In a goodwill message, President, RATTAWU, Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose, thanked members of the Delta state chapter of the union over their peaceful conduct at the conference and election, encouraging other members to emulate Delta chapter.
Bamgbose, who was represented by the national treasurer, Comrade Pasmon Mgbebe, said the issues the union was trying to address were about the workers’ welfare.
He said that the union was not happy with the current state of media houses in the country.
His words: “What we are seeing now in the industry is not what we are proud of, we are not happy. We have to be bold to tell government. Even this current digitization that is on-going, we advocated it, it came as a result of protest by the union and we challenge the government both at the state and federal level because we know that we are the receiving end”
Bamgbose said that the practice in other counties in terms of broadcasting was far different compared to Nigeria, urging government to equip media houses to the international standard.
In a remark, the Special Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Labour and Industrial Relation Matters, Comrade Mike Okeme who represented the governor at the event said that a lot issues has been raise especially at a time when the economy of the state was not what it used to be.
He urged the people to be patient, assuring that soon the Delta Broadcasting Service DBS would reach all nooks and crannies of the state, which he said was not the situation at the moment.
“We don’t need to get OB Van before you transmit. Broadcasting has gone scientific and the state is keying into it,” he assured.
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