Staff of Bayelsa Broadcasting Corporation, on Friday, urged the State Government to compel the General Manager (GM) to step down, to pave way for the investigation of the recent fire incident at the station.
Early Tuesday morning, inferno gutted the state’s FM station, Glory FM, destroying broadcast equipment while staff on duty escaped unhurt.
Dr John Idumange, GM of the radio station, had in a reaction after the incident attributed the fire outbreak to alleged sabotage by some staff.
The workers’ unions, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Radio Television Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), condemned the GM’s position as hasty while investigation was underway.
In a statement on Friday in Yanegoa, both unions said the comments made and position taken by the GM would jeopardise the ongoing investigations by a committee set up by government.
The statement was signed by Kingsley Abidde, and Otiti Pius, Radio Bayelsa NUJ and RATTAWU Chairmen respectively.
They urged the GM to exercise restraint, while calling on government to include union representatives on the panel.
“To this end, the Joint Union is calling on government to persuade the GM to step aside to enable the panel of inquiry to judiciously carry out its investigation into the cause of the fire without the influence of the GM.
“The General Manager should also be advised to desist from making unguarded public utterances to overheat the already tense environment, as it is prejudice and premature to talk about sabotage at this stage.
“At this stage when an investigative panel is already set up by government to ascertain the remote and immediate cause(s) of the inferno, such comments amount to prejudice.
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“We also use this medium to call on government to ensure that union representatives are part of the panel for objectivity and fairness, in line with internationally accepted best practice.
“The unions wish to encourage members to remain calm as investigation by the panel of inquiry is expected to assume duty.
“We further appeal to government to match words with action in their promise to put in place a temporary studio and other equipment to bring the station back on air.
“The unions sympathise with the state government over the unfortunate fire incident that occurred on Tuesday, July 2, 2019.
“We express gratitude to the state Commissioner of Information Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, for his prompt response during the ugly incident and the state Fire Service for containing the inferno and salvaging the transmitter” the unions said.
