28th August, 2015
The union’s National President, Mr Waheed Odusile, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that improving on media wellbeing would go a long way in enhancing performance.
Odusile decried the way graduates working in the government owned media were being treated, describing the media as strong body in nation building.
“What we want from the government is a kind of enhancing the salary of journalists; let it start first with our members and colleagues in government media because the bulk of members are government employees.
“We do not like the way our members are being treated like other civil servants in the country; you and I know that journalist works round the clock; let the salary and other benefits go in line with the nature of the job we do.
“Let the benefits reflect the work we are doing; if other professions are recognised, journalism should also be recognised in this country.
“Well, once we achieve better pay for journalist in the government media, we will move on to negotiate with the private media owners because we are doing a lot for national development.
“In this process, we are not going to relent on negotiating with the government to achieve our goals.
“On the issue of fake journalists, I think, we need law that can wipe them out; we want every fake journalist arrested to be punished according to the law.
“There should also be a law protecting journalism in this country; journalism as profession should be reorganised and protected,” he said.
NAN recalls that the 11th All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) is on-going in Yenagoa.