BRC MD Appreciates Bauchi Govt Over 163 Staff Regularisation, AM Transmitter

From Paul Orude, Bauchi

The Managing Director of the Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC), Malam Umar Mohammed Shira, has expressed appreciation to the Bauchi State Government for converting 163 casual workers of the corporation to full-time employees after years of uncertainty over their employment status.

Shira also commended the government for its huge investment in the corporation’s broadcasting infrastructure, particularly the provision of a modern AM transmitter expected to restore BRC’s wide coverage, including parts of neighbouring Cameroon as it did in the past.

Speaking on the developments, the BRC Managing Director said the regularisation of the 163 workers was the result of a long struggle involving persistent advocacy, lobbying and the adoption of various strategies.

“It is not a one-day journey. It was a long-time struggle and it materialised this time. We pushed, we pushed and we lobbied. So many strategies were adopted,” he said.

Shira described the decision to absorb the workers as a significant gesture, noting that it was not easy for a state government to take such a large number of casual workers into its permanent workforce at once, considering the implications for the state wage bill.

He urged the newly regularised workers to reciprocate the gesture by redoubling their efforts, maintaining professional standards and justifying the confidence reposed in them by the government.

“Now is the time for business proper. They have to settle down and double their efforts. There is no room for laziness. They have to work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them by the state government,” he said.

He urged the workers to remain ethical and professional in their duties and to demonstrate loyalty to the public service.

Shira assured them that BRC would continue to support their professional development through in-house training and other capacity-building programmes to enhance their skills and resourcefulness.

The BRC boss also expressed appreciation to the state government for investing heavily in the corporation’s infrastructure, particularly the reactivation of its AM station.

He disclosed that the AM station was currently undergoing test transmission and would commence full operation soon.

“Our AM station has been reactivated. We are only doing a test transmission and very soon, hopefully, it will go on air,” he said.

According to him, the corporation has received a state-of-the-art AM transmitter, which he described as one of the latest broadcasting technologies in the country.

Shira said the new transmitter would enable BRC to cover a much wider geographical area because of the long-distance reach of AM broadcasting.

“You know what AM means. It is something that will go far distances and cover a lot of places as BRC used to be. We have before covered even beyond the shores of Nigeria; part of Cameroon listened to us,” he said.

He expressed hope that the corporation would regain its former reach once the station becomes fully operational.

The Managing Director said the government’s investment demonstrated its recognition of the importance of the media and broadcasting to development and democracy.

He described the media as a bridge between government and the governed, stressing that BRC would reciprocate the government’s support through professionalism and socially responsible broadcasting.

“We will remain grateful and unshaken in terms of loyalty to government because we have to also reciprocate the gesture. We do that by being professional and socially responsible in terms of our work,” Shira said.

He added that BRC would continue to contribute to the peaceful atmosphere in Bauchi State by supporting efforts to mobilise citizens and promote understanding of government policies and programmes.