Cross River broadcast workers lock up bosses over salaries

Contract workers and artistes of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC), over the weekend, locked the main gate leading into the premises of the organisation for several hours, preventing the General Manager, Mrs. Theresa Essien, and other key managers from leaving the premises. The workers seized the opportunity of the Christmas party organised by the […]

Contract workers and artistes of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC), over the weekend, locked the main gate leading into the premises of the organisation for several hours, preventing the General Manager, Mrs. Theresa Essien, and other key managers from leaving the premises.

The workers seized the opportunity of the Christmas party organised by the corporation for children to protest non-payment of their three months salaries and refusal to give them Christmas packages.

Some of the artistes and contract workers said they were paid only N7000 each month, adding that for three months now the corporation had not paid them, whereas other workers who earned more were not owed.

“Many of us here have worked here for close to seven years, others upward of 15 years. Yet we are not appreciated. Others like me receive N7000 per month as salary. They are not mentioning anything for us for Christmas, whereas others, not contract staff, have since been paid. Is this not apartheid which Nigeria fought against. We are suffering. Most of us are family men. What do we tell our children this Christmas?,” one of them who pleaded anonymity said.

CRBC GM, Mrs. Essien, was quoted as saying that the contract staff were overreacting, but that the management would soon pay up all outstanding allowances.

Last month, cleaners and other very junior workers in the governor’s office protested over backlog of salary arrears.

“They do not give us any regards. They would usually withhold our pay even when the governor had authorised same to be paid. They can owe us as much as three months,” a cleaner said.

Many civil servants in the state said although the governor attempted to pay workers every month, this did not go round all government offices and departments.