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The Nigerian Journalists Union (NUJ) on Tuesday called criminal and ruthless a situation in which some media outlets continually owe their members across the country several months of unpaid wages.
Our correspondent reports that it is just like the union, has called for an improved enabling environment and improved social assistance programs for its members nationwide.
Mr. Rotimi Ojomoyela, president of NUJ in Ekiti, told Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on a broadcast coordinated by Fresh FM, a popular radio station owned by the ace musician, Yinka Ayefele, that many journalists from both radio stations and newspapers are currently owed between five and a year or more salary.
He said that owing reporters unpaid wages without any immediate payment plan usually exposed members to a series of temptations.
“It is only in Nigeria that we see that journalists are not paid what is due to them, as and when needed.
“Unfortunately, when things like this are done, the danger is that these journalists now become vulnerable to temptation, as they, like others, also have children, parents and other loved ones to care for. “, did he declare.
On the issue of fake news, he said the union’s national secretariat was looking into the issue, in partnership with the Council of 36 States, to stop the situation by decisively dealing with the unqualified people who broke in. in the system.
He, however, pleaded with politicians to avoid rushing to the media to spread misleading information about their opponents, saying no journalist would also rush into publishing such damaging information without first verifying its authenticity. .
Likewise, he urged the public to always demand genuine staff ID cards of any person or group of people claiming to be a practitioner, whenever they came to extract information from them.
He assured that the NUJ is doing everything in its power to ensure proper regulation of the activities of registered members so that only those who are certified to practice end up on the streets.
He also condemned the senseless and heinous killings of journalists, in parts of the world, on numerous occasions, on the basis of investigations and reports they have released to the public for knowledge.
DAILY POST reports that Ojomoyela has said that journalists faced with one crisis situation or another, should not hesitate to call the Secretary of State for rapid intervention.
He promised the Nigerian public that despite threats against its members, journalists in the state, as well as Nigeria as a whole, would continue to release only verified information to them.
As the country prepares for the 2023 general election, the NUJ boss has asked members to be vigilant and very aware of their safety, avoiding isolated places and being mindful of those to whom they entrust their shift schedules. shift.
He assured state practitioners would only release information that could unite the country more rather than those who can divide it, but clarified that both sides of the divide would still be accommodated.
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