Abiodun JIMOH
A coalition of Nigeria’s leading labour unions has accused the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Jibrin Baba Ndace, of abusing his office by orchestrating what they call a “vindictive redeployment” of key management staff and union leaders in the Lagos office.
In a joint statement, the Lagos State chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), and the Radio, Television, Theatre and Art Workers Union (RATTAWU), strongly condemned the redeployments. They described the move as unjust, retaliatory, and an affront to democratic principles and labour rights.
The unions alleged that the redeployed staff were targeted shortly after they raised serious concerns about operational failures, financial mismanagement, and administrative irregularities under Mr. Ndace’s leadership. According to the unions, this action was taken not to improve efficiency but to silence dissent and intimidate workers who had demanded accountability.
The redeployment, they said, follows a letter sent by the in-house union leaders to the Director General on March 22, 2025, titled “Ploy to Render Lagos Staff Redundant.” In the letter, the union leadership outlined a catalogue of troubling issues plaguing the Lagos office. They pointed to a prolonged absence of diesel supply since the third quarter of 2024, which left the Lagos station completely reliant on erratic public electricity for its broadcast operations. This energy crisis, they said, severely hampered productivity and content delivery.
Also detailed in the letter was the continued deterioration of studio facilities, which remain non-functional and unconducive to standard production. The unions also highlighted the absence of cleaning personnel due to unpaid wages amounting to millions of naira, a situation that has resulted in unhygienic and unsafe working conditions. They noted that the station’s operational vehicles had also broken down, making field reporting and logistics nearly impossible. Even more disturbing, they said, was the state of the toilets, which had become unusable and forced staff to rely on facilities belonging to the neighbouring Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
Rather than address these pressing concerns, the Director General, according to the unions, chose to retaliate by redeploying the very individuals who raised the alarm. They described the action as a “weaponisation of administrative authority” aimed at weakening the union, silencing whistleblowers, and entrenching a culture of fear within the organisation.
The unions reminded Mr. Ndace and the general public that Nigeria is a signatory to international conventions that guarantee the rights of workers, including their right to freedom of expression, freedom of association, and protection from retaliation for exposing wrongdoing. They described the redeployments as not only unethical but also unlawful, as they directly violate both domestic labour laws and international obligations.
The labour bodies are now demanding the immediate reversal of the redeployments and the reinstatement of the affected staff. They are also calling for a full and independent investigation into the allegations of financial impropriety and administrative high-handedness levelled against Mr. Ndace. According to the unions, industrial peace at VON cannot be restored unless there is respect for due process, internal dialogue, and a clear commitment to resolving the structural and administrative challenges facing the organisation.
In addition to these demands, the unions are insisting on unconditional respect for union activities and the right of workers to raise concerns without fear of reprisal. They warned that failure to meet these demands would force them to mobilise their members for solidarity actions in defence of the dignity of labour and the sanctity of unionism.
The joint statement was signed by Comrade Funmi Sessi, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (Lagos State); Comrade Abiodun Aladetan, Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (Lagos State); Tunde Olalere, Secretary of the NUJ Lagos State Council; Comrade Ismail Adejumo, Chairman of RATTAWU Lagos State; and Comrade Kayode Alakija, President General of SSASCGOC and Deputy President of the TUC in Lagos.
Copies of the communiqué were also sent to the national presidents of the NLC, TUC, NUJ, and RATTAWU, suggesting that the matter may soon escalate to the national level if left unaddressed.
As the controversy deepens, attention now turns to how the federal government and regulatory agencies will respond to these damning allegations. For now, the unions appear resolute: silence and intimidation will not be tolerated.
