By NewsBits
Barely four days to his retirement, the Zonal Director, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Enugu, Pastor Emmanuel E. Inegbedion and in-house Union leaders in the Radio House ended up in the police station due to an infighting over an official Toyota Corolla car.
The crisis erupted when the unions in FRCN and Senior managers suspected that the retiring Zonal Director of FRCN planned to go home, and gift himself a retirement package – Only functioning Car – after purportedly destroying the radio station.
NewsBits learnt that at about 8:00pm on Thursday, Jan 25th, 2023, the retiring zonal Director, came into the compound of FRCN Enugu, Headquarters in company of two men. They quietly drove away in the only functioning official car, a development that instantly triggered vehement resistance from the union leaders who double crossed them and insisted that the car must not be taken away.
It was observed that the official car was even driven in deflected tires while the retiring Zonal Director was inside it. A Communique issued by the Unions in FRCN, Enugu after a meeting they held earlier on the same day, Thursday, 25th January 25, 2023, concerning the situation of things in the Radio Station seemed to have exposed the rot in the station.
The Communique, among other things, read: “the in-house, NUJ/RATTAWU FRCN, Enugu Zonal Station, discussed the present state of affairs in the station and made the following appeals/resolutions:
(1) The union expresses fear over imminent collapse of the station’s operations as a result of poor signal/reception/constant dead air as a result of obsolete and poor maintenance of facilities, and called for their total overhaul, including the live studio which has become an embarrassment to the corporate image of the station.
It notes that the Enugu Zonal Station is currently transmitting less than one kilowatt as against about twenty kilowatts of normal transmission, not minding the busy nature of commercial belt. This is unacceptable and we call on the management of the station to rise up to the challenges.
(2) The union expresses worry about poor sanitation and possible outbreak of epidemic in the broadcasting house due to indiscriminate defecation/ urination in the premises of the station by staff and visitors evidently due to non-availability/functionality of conveniences, and called for immediate action.
(3) The union calls on the DG of FRCN, Dr Mansul Leman, to redeem the corporate image of FRCN, Enugu Zonal Station, as all the official vehicles of deputy directors, including operational ones are grounded.
It is regrettable to note that the only functional vehicle in the entire station was the Toyota Corolla Car currently being used by the Zonal Director. Therefore, any attempt to auction it portends doom for the station and the Zone. This, however, has compelled the DDs to rely on public transport while reporters, producers and marketers have been abandoned to their fate.
(4) The union also frowns at plans of the management to auction FRCN official vehicles/equipments without arrangement to replace them. This will further worsen the challenges facing the station.
(5) The union expresses unhappiness with the difficulties faced by staff in the discharge of their duties as a result of non-availability/faulty/poor maintenance of workstations, and called on the management to address the plight of the staff.
(6) The union urges the management to install security solar-powered lights at the broadcasting house/transmitting station to prevent constant vandalisation of FRCN infrastructure.
(7) The union also appeals for reversal of the current arrangement of shutting down transmission by 9 pm and re-opening it at 6 am. This policy has portrayed the station in a bad light and relegated it from its leading role in the Southeast to a pariah broadcast station.
(8) The union urges the management to clear all the outstanding claims/allowances owed to staff to motivate them for productivity.
(9) The union also frowns at the non-mobilization of some staff for the last promotional exercise and calls for immediate action.
That the in-house Union is ready to partner with the management to ensure optimal functionality of the stations.”
But as at the time of filing this report, no official statement or reaction has has been made by the retiring Zonal Director as the matter is reportedly being looked into by the police. The State Police Command Spokesman, DSP, Daniel Ndukwe could not be reached as his telephone line was inaccessible.
