Scores of workers of Daar Communications Plc,
operator of African Independent Television (AIT)
and Raypower FM Radio, on Wednesday shut
down all broadcasting activities at the Benin
studio in protest over unpaid salaries.
The protesting workers were said to have
blocked the main entrance to the station located
along the Benin/Lagos bypass.
A detachment of anti-riot policemen were
however called by the management of the station
to forestall any break down of law.
It was gathered that the protesting workers put at
50 of AIT and Ray Power, were owed salaries
salaries spanning between 12 and 17 months.
One of the protesting workers who did not want
his name in print for personal reasons, said
newly employed staff of AIT were being owed 12
months while old staff were yet to be paid
salaries between 13 months and staff of the
Raypower FM, the Radio arm of the broadcast
outfit were owed 17 months.
“The stations generate millions of naira on a daily
basis, so there is no reason why we should not
be paid our salaries. They have no excuse not to
pay us our money. It is share wickedness and
man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. We have
families to care for and children to pay their
school fees. Many of our children have stopped
going to school. But their own attend schools
abroad.
“Look at where our station is located, in another
village so far away from Benin City. You have to
chatter a taxi carb for not less than N500.00 to
get there if you miss the staff bus. And not even
every cab driver will agree to go there because of
the wrong location of the station, yet, they expect
us to be there everyday, whether you have
anything to do or not,” the source told
Chairman of the organization, Raymond Dokpesi
(Jnr) was said to have spoken to the protesters on
phone. He allegedly appealed for calm, assuring
them that the management will within one week
do everything possible to pay parts of the salary
arrears.
He however allegedly threatened to pay-off any
of the staff that decided to resign from the
establishment.