The African TV news channel TVC News based in Nigeria has slammed shut following reports that it allegedly made media study interns work as toilet cleaners and had them make tea and mop floors where they were "talked down on like slaves".
TVC News has failed to respond to media enquiries the past week following reports that the 24-hour TV news channel, owned by Continental Broadcasting Service Nigeria Ltd., has allegedly been treating interns, working under deplorable conditions, in their own words like "slaves".
TVC News is available on StarSat on channel 270 in South Africa. While TVC News isn't carried on DStv in South Africa, TVC News can be seen on MultiChoice's DStv and GOtv in Nigeria.
According to reports, interns who thought they would get media and communication expertise and skills working at TVC News, have been confronted with "inhumane" working conditions.
This allegedly includes no payment for having to work irregular hours like labouring on TVC News' early morning news show, Wake Up Nigeria that launched in June this year.
According to TVC News interns who decided to speak out, they've been subjected to making tea, mopping floors, working as janitors and washing dishes - conditions that's made some of them rather quit than continue.
"Efforts to protest were met with all forms of intimidation, such as threats to fire us, or summoning us to various disciplinary panels, where we were talked down on like slaves. We never got to learn anything about the job for which we were engaged," said one intern.
Another intern willing to give her name - Aminat Busari said that TVC News treats interns with disdain. "We are not allowed near any of the production activities, except on occasions where we are expected to run errands for them or clean up their mess."
"It is a place where you are made to lose your self-esteem and confidence. Students should be advised to look elsewhere for their internship, rather than coming here to be used for odd jobs."
TVwithThinus reached out to TVC News a week ago seeking comment from the TV news channel.
On Monday 4 September TVC News spokesperson Mabel Aladenusi responded to an emailed media enquiry saying that "due to the holiday here, we will not be able to furnish you with a response until when work resumes".
Work presumably resumed after Monday, but no response was forthcoming.
TVC News was asked to comment on reporting that interns at TVC News said they were made to clean toilets and if this has been demanded from students seeking work experience, and whether interns have been ordered to dust desks and clean floors.
TVC News was asked if interns are correct in saying they haven't been paid to be at work from 6:30am to work on the breakfast show, and forced to stay at work until 18:00.
Despite a follow-up and reaching out to TVC News again during the past week, following up on the original enquiry a week ago, there's been no response from Mabel Aladenusi or any answers to these questions that were posed.
