Creative Art Industry Workers Protest National Theatre Shutdown

Workers in Creative and Art in National Theatre, under the aegis of Joint Union Congress, have staged a protest over the National Theatre’s continued closure five years after renovation work was completed.

The protest, organised by Joint Union Congress (JUC) made up of Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) affiliates of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) described the delay as insincerity on the part of government, indicting government officials of systemic step to give out the national asset against the promise made before the renovation.

They further said that they have seen strange movements around the premises, which shows that they want to concession the National through the back door.

Speaking exclusively with LEADERSHIP, one of the officials of the workers in the creative arts industry, who did not want his name in print, enumerated how the National Theatre, headquarters, Iganmu, Lagos State, has been losing billions of Naira since the workers were shut out and compelled to conduct official work under the trees.

“We have lost above N56.070 billion since operating under trees. Although we are still making revenue while operating under trees, yet, the government has lost N56.080 billion in the last five years.

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“For example, we used to generate N2m daily through Banquet Hall. We used to generate N1.8m and N3.2m in two Exhibition Halls. From the use of Cinema Hall one and two, we used to generate N800,000. For VIP Lodge, we used to make N1m daily. For Lobby and Lawns, we used to make millions on a daily basis.  But all these revenue-making instruments have been shut down.”

In addition to the grievances, the statement signed by the state secretary of AUPCTRE, Federal Organ, Comrade Omotola Babatunde and RATTAWU state acting secretary, Comrade Bimbola Oluyeye, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and National Assembly members to save the edifice from going the same way Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and other national assets went after privatisation.

Comrade Adebayo Idowu, who represented the NLC Lagos council chairman, Comrade Funmi Sessi, assured that the NLC is taking over the struggle to forestall any privatisation.

“The promise made by the former Minister, Lai Mohammed that assured that the workers would be returned to their offices after renovation should be followed.’’