The Task Force Committee on Imo Broadcasting Corporation [IBC] has terminated the contracts of all Adhoc, guests and Contract staff in the Corporation.
The layoff which will be taking effect by the end of November 2015, was made known to the staff during a meeting on Monday, November 23, 2015 in the Corporation’s premises by the Chairman of the Committee, Chief Vitalis Orikaeze Ajumbe.
Mr. Ajumbe informed them that his committee was working on improving their working conditions and giving IBC a new face, adding that they will have to re-apply for their positions as contract staff.
“We will be looking at the pay you are receiving and see how we can improve it; and those of you who have been showing leis fare attitude to work will not be re-admitted”, Chief Ajumbe said, adding that the re-application starts immediately.
He also assured the group that the four months salary [June – September] cheque which could not clear, is being worked on and before the end of the week, something positive will be happening.
Chief Vitalis Orikaeze Ajumbe then went on to say that their October and November salaries will be paid when the other staff of the Corporation will be paid and there is no cause for alarm because all they are doing is for the good of the corporation.
Meanwhile the reissuance of a mass query to the staff of the Corporation has pushed the staff closer to God as they now hold prayers regularly against the query which Nigeria Union of Journalists [NUJ] and Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria [RATTAWU] have ordered them to ignore.
The query came up as a result of a protest by the staff union that the Chief Vitalis Orikaeze Ajumbe led Committee move to Ikemba Ojukwu Center where an office provision was made for them, rather than stay in the Corporation’s Board Room where the committee was using as an office.
The workers were accused of locking up the entrance gate of the Corporation with chains and keys, chanting war songs which were embarrassing to the state Government and clients of IBC who were prevented from coming in to transact businesses.
They were also accused of throwing stones at Chief Vitalis Orikaeze Ajumbe’s vehicle, which damaged the windscreen of his jeep.
The NUJ Chairman, Sir Innocent Igwe had earlier denied the allegations stating that it was a plot to sack the workers.
