In recognition of his immense contributions to the improvement of staff welfare while in service, a major street has been named after a veteran journalist and trade unionist, Otunba Gbenga Onayiga, at the Radio Nigeria Headquarters Estate, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
Bestowing the honour on Onayiga, the Chairman and Secretary of the corporation’s Cooperative Society, Comrade Victorson Agbenson and Mustapha Ahmed, expressed delight that Onayiga “laboured and retired from FRCN meritoriously.”
They said: “Although you are not a subscriber to our housing scheme, we have resolved to name one of the streets in our new estate after you because of the great sacrifices you made to actualize several workers welfare packages while in service.”
Onayiga, who retired as a Director in FRCN six years ago, represented NUJ in the Committee on Special Media Salary set up by former Information Minister, late Prof. Dora Akunyile. The committee’s report led to the payment of weighing allowance to media workers.
As the National Vice-President of NUJ, Onayiga also spearheaded the fight for the payment of monetization arrears to media workers. He was Chairman of NUJ Insurance Committee and served on the Governing Board of the Nigerian Press Council.
Onayiga was a member of the Committee on Rightsizing and Downsizing of the workforce of FRCN nationwide.
He worked assiduously with other labour leaders, even at the risk of losing his own job, to save the jobs of 658 staff of the corporation who were already listed to be sacked.
The FRCN Cooperative Society Estate Gwagwalada comprises 500 housing units made up of duplexes, three and two bedroom bungalows, shopping malls, places of worship, schools and a recreation centre.
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