EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ON STATE OF NIGERIAN MEDIA!
‘NUJ to Pickets Lagos Media Houses owing journalists Salaries’–National Sec, NUJ HQ, Shuaibu Leman
*Says: ‘We’ve written to big newspapers’ owners, Two broadcast houses in Lagos’
*Confesses: ‘Media professionals ‘Journalists need pay N6,750 or N17,000 yearly’ each annually to claim N1.5m or N3m should death happens’
*Hails: ‘Only African Independent Television (AIT) registered 500 of their journalists for Insurance Scheme’
BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU, CNN iReport, North America
EMPLOYERS of labor in Nigeria, especially media establishment owners who takes pleasure in owing practicing journalists huge-backlog of salaries, yet exploiting them on editorial responsibilities will have the days of their stewardship being made accountable to the public soonest.
Shuaibu Leman, National Secretary, Nigerian Union of Journalist, NUJ Headquarters Abuja made this known this morning to CNN iReport in an exclusive interview on ‘State-of-Nigerian media’. He explains: “We have already written out to big newspapers owners and two major broadcasting houses in Lagos, who cherishes owing journalists their salaries. Our media union has picked those particular days we would be storming Lagos State to picket those media houses, to get instant result and end the suffering of Nigerian press.
“We cannot continue to allow our members to suffer for doing their civic duty to the nation. We are in the know that National Industrial Court process will be a waste of time if we drag those media owners’ over there. We will picket them, expose them to the Nigerian people. By then, we will obtain instant results for Nigerian journalists. How can people be working, yet by month end, nothing to show for it. That has to stop. This example which we will lay will teach other media owners’ who had in their mind to deceive the journalists to steer clear that idea. Enough is enough. Journalists are human beings, with families, responsibilities to cater for; since we all got bills to pay in our various homes.”
Insurance for Nigerian Journalists
Leman tells iReport that journalists’ families are properly looked after in case of death while on editorial duty, NUJ Insurance scheme has been made available to journalists all over Nigeria to officially apply. He explains: “It is high time media professionals need to pay N6,750 or N17,000 each annually as subscription fees to qualify. In case unexpected calamity happens which leads to death, the affected journalists’ family members to claim N1.5m or N3m within five days.
“Response from journalists to partake in this NUJ Insurance scheme for their safety have not been encouraging at all and this is not helping their optimal editorial jobs. We want to thank African Independent Television, AIT, who sent us Insurance payment for 500 journalists to be registered, which had been done already.”
