The Nigeria Association of Women Journalist, NAWOJ, South East zone, has condemned in strong terms the suspension of her Chairperson, Imo State chapter, Mrs Vivian Ottih, by the management of Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC).
The body described Ottih’s suspension, who is a staff of the organization, as hasty, high-handed and against all known labour laws, calling on Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodimma to intervene by demanding its reversal from the IBC management.
In a press statement issued by its South East Zonal Vice President, Chibita Edozie, in Enugu, NAWOJ regretted that it was more worrisome to note that the suspension came shortly after her child delivery.
The body also demanded that the payment of all the arrears of outstanding wages of workers in the establishment be effected.
According to the statement: “The South East zone of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, received with shock, the suspension of Mrs Vivian Ottih, the Chairperson of Imo State NAWOJ, by the management of Imo Broadcasting Corporation.
“More regrettably, the suspension is labour-related, based on her innocuous Facebook post on the three- month outstanding salaries of workers in the Station.
“Apart from the ill-timing of the suspension, which came shortly after Mrs Ottih gave birth, her claim on the outstanding wages has not been disputed by her Station’s management.
“We find the action of her indefinite suspension as hasty, high-handed and against all known labour laws.
“We are persuaded to think that this action does not have the blessings of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Imo State, Chief Hope Uzodinma because he won’t sanction such high-handed action.
“This is against the backdrop of the fact that this action would be an embarrassment to the National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who, apart from being very close to His Excellency Hope Uzodinma, fought all his labour years, for what Mrs Ottih is being victimised.
“All women journalists in the whole of South East therefore call on the Director-General of Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) to rescind this suspension and effect the payment of all the arrears of outstanding wages of workers in the establishment”.
