The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria, RATTAWU, has urged the management of the National Theatre to rescind its decision to relocate the department of Arts and Culture from its premises.
Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the union, Mr. Godwin Itotowa, on Wednesday said this while addressing newsmen, after RATTAWU members had embarked on a peaceful protest around the National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos.
Itotowa called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the matter and prevail on the management of the National Theatre to stop the relocation.
“It is not good enough for the government to evacuate a parastatal from a building without providing an alternative. Relocating the arts and cultural sector would hamper its growth in Nigeria. Because the foundation and historical background of culture and arts professionals in the country were being groomed from artistes’ village at the National Theatre,” Itotowa said.
According to the chairman, the new office complex allocated to the agency was not conducive. He therefore urged the government to retain it at its present location.
On his part, Mr. Babatope Babayemi, coordinator of employees of arts and culture, noted that relocating the agency out of the National Theatre premises negated the provision of Decree 47 of 1991.
“All the affected parastatals were the soul of National Theatre; without National Troupe the Theatre is an empty edifice only for wedding ceremonies and annual general meetings. Decree 47 of 1991 has not been amended or repealed by the lawmakers. We, therefore, call on the National Assembly to intervene in this issue to safeguard the Nigeria cultural sector,” Babayemi said, adding that the National Theatre should conserve, protect and promote the nation’s cultural heritage.