Nigeria’s state radio, television network and news agency were operating a skeleton service on Monday after thousands of journalists went on strike over unpaid allowances.
”We have decided on the strike because all government’s promises since 2003 to pay our allowances have been broken,” said a senior editor at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Under Nigeria’s current economic reform programme the perks once paid to state workers — cars and houses for example — are to be ”monetised” or converted into salary bonuses.
But the scheme has got off to a slow start and many government staff claim to have missed out.
”We have been taken for a ride for too long by the government,” the NAN editor said.
Labour minister Hassan Lawal protested that the journalists were being impatient.
”This strike is avoidable. We understand their position. Government has agreed to pay the monetisation, but there are certain grey areas to clear up,” he said.
The journalists’ boss, Information Minister Frank Nweke, protested: ”Strikes have never solved anything in this country. I am hopeful that wise counsel will prevail.” – AFP
