Staff of Imo State owned Radio and Television stations, Imo Broadcasting Cooperation IBC, have raised alarm over unpaid salaries of workers and lingering months of unpaid pensions to retired staffers of the organization.
According to information available to Imo Trumpeta, the staff of the Media Organization have never had it so bad since the administration of late Dr Sam Mbakwe.
Not only are the staff owed monthly salaries, it was learnt that lack of funds to purchase essential amenities that can keep the station running is becoming a problem.
Some of the staff who spoke to Imo Trumpeta under anonymity disclosed that IBC is gradually going dead, as the station is living on thin lines which may snap soon, with patience of staff are running out as they can no longer be operating in a hostile environment, and yet Imo State government expects them to live up to expectation.
Imo Trumpeta was told that materials like CDs, Cameras, Papers, Files are scarce and other important gadgets are spoiling without available funds to repair them, even as money to purchase fuel and diesel for power supply is becoming a herculean task.
In view of this sad development, government’s privatization policy, it was learnt, is gradually killing the station, even as workers are living in fear.
The reason for the fear is that government is planning to retire some staff of the IBC soon to reduce the strength to a manageable number that it can be able to pay.
But unfortunately, this Newspaper was told that already retired staff of the company have not received their monthly pensions for over twenty two (22) months now.
Imo Trumpeta was informed that before the present administration came into office, the pensioners were owed seven months arrears, but after fifteen months now without payment, it rose to 23 months.
“It is true that we are owed 23 months. But this administration has only paid us just two months since 15 months ago” a pensioner told Imo Trumpeta.
The source went on to say that it was unfortunate that IBC staff are suffering while the pensioners are dying without collecting their sweat.
“Recently we lost Betty Onuoha. And that Lady died without receiving her pensions after serving her father land” the source disclosed.
He recollected that during the time of Mbakwe, IBC was the toast of all, pointing out that it was a shame that even as the present administration makes more use of IBC for its propaganda, yet it cannot fund the organization.
