Why Journalists’ Salary Must Be Paid As And When Due – NUJ

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has expressed concern about the attitudes of some media houses that owe journalists a backlog of salary.

The union also canvassed for an enhanced enabling environment and improved welfare packages for its members nationwide.

Mr Rotimi Ojomoyela, Chairman of NUJ in Ekiti, raised the concern in Ado-Ekiti while featuring on a media programme coordinated by Fresh FM, a popular radio station in the state.

He alleged that many journalists in both radio and newspapers houses “are currently being owed between five months to more than one year salary.

“Owing journalists’ salary without plans to pay up, exposes them to temptations”.

He said the union would partner with the 36 state councils of the union to deal with unqualified persons that practised journalism to address cases of fake news.

He urged politicians to avoid rushing to the media to dish out misleading information about their opponents.

He also advised journalists not to publish any information without first verifying its genuineness.

The chairman enjoined the public to always demand for genuine staff identity cards of anyone or group of people who professed to be journalists whenever they come to extract information from them.

He said NUJ was trying all within its powers to ensure proper regulation of activities of its registered members so that only those certified would practise.

Ojomoyela also said the killing of journalists in some parts of the world while carrying about their legitimate role of informing the public is not acceptable.

He urged journalists in crisis situations not to hesitate to call any close NUJ secretariat for prompt intervention