By Peter Omopo
Some members of staff of Radio Benue, a Benue State-owned radio station, on Monday staged a peaceful protest over what they described as heavy and unexplained deductions from their salaries, calling on Governor Hyacinth Alia to intervene.
The workers converged at the corporate headquarters of the station along Old Otukpo Road in Makurdi to express their grievances.
A staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said the protest stemmed from a disagreement between the station’s workers’ union and management over persistent salary deductions.
According to the source, the Chairman of the Radio Chapel editorial committee, Paul Mandeun, had drawn the governor’s attention to the issue during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Interdenominational Service held at Deeper Life Church.
He said some workers discovered deductions of up to ₦72,000 from their salaries since November last year, noting that several complaints submitted to the Office of the Head of Service had not been addressed.
“During the service, the chapel chairman informed the governor of the deductions and appealed to him to intervene. The governor said he was unaware of the situation and immediately directed the Accountant-General and the Head of Service, Agbogbo Ode, to investigate and resolve the matter within one week,” the source said.
The source added that Mandeun also used the opportunity to request a new transmitter and the installation of solar panels to improve the station’s broadcast of government activities.
However, it was gathered that members of the station’s management were displeased that the issues were raised directly with the governor and subsequently issued a query to the chapel chairman, a development that reportedly triggered the protest.
“The workers felt the chapel chairman acted in the collective interest of staff, and the query against him was seen as victimisation,” the source added.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information, Dr Peter Egbodo, confirmed the protest, describing it as peaceful and arising from a minor misunderstanding.
“I was passing by when I noticed some people protesting and decided to stop to find out what was going on. I was told it was a misunderstanding between the union and management,” Egbodo said.
He added that as the supervising commissioner, such issues should have been brought to his attention earlier, noting that his intervention helped to calm the situation and restore order.
