NON-PAYMENT OF JOURNALISTS' SALARIES SHOULD BE CRIMINAL OFFENCE

Read Time:2 Minute, 9 Second

Joe Ajaero, the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress, has demanded increased pensions, insurance coverage, and wages for journalists nationwide.

Ajaero made the call while in Abuja with Dr. Chris Isiguzo, the president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

He clarified that although journalists were instrumental in the struggle for Nigeria’s independence and the country’s existing democracy, it is regrettable that these same individuals are now pleading for their salary to be paid.

The head of labor claimed that although technology has improved journalism, the field is becoming worse every day.

“The welfare of journalists is being underplayed. While journalists are a group of professionals fighting for everyone, nobody is for them, they are not even for themselves.

“Journalists do not have weekends, public holidays or festive season. They work and report the activities of people who are enjoying weekends, public holidays and festivities.

“Even when a journalist is sacked or not paid for one year, other journalists will not write a story on such injustice,” Ajaero said.

He added, “I am advocating for a consultative machinery that we should hold every two years, to have a negotiation with all media employers in the county to fix minimum wage for journalists.

“Also, there should be a pension that all journalists should enjoy after retiring from the job. Insurance cover is another thing that journalists should enjoy to make them work better.”

The labor leader emphasized that failure to pay journalists’ salary ought to be viewed as “a criminal offence” and should not be encouraged.

Although Ajaero conceded that things have not always been simple for publishers, he stated that this should not be an excuse for them to neglect their staff members’ needs, especially when it comes to paying their salaries.

“Most reporters spend their little salaries on transportation to do their job. This is unacceptable.

“We are in the era of social and online media. There is also the need to regulate online media practices.

“It should be regulated in such a way that they will be part of NUJ. You need to accommodate them and know what they are doing,” Ajaero said.

On his part, Isiguzo said NUJ is doing a lot to address abnormalities in the country’s journalism practice.

“We are currently looking at the Code of Ethics to come out with a review that will also stipulate the responsibilities and obligations of employers to media workers.

“Again, our check-off dues don’t come to the NUJ. Where it goes, we don’t know. That is one key issue that needs to be addressed,” Isiguzo said.