The Need For Good Renumeration, Insurance Policy For Journalists

By Nehemiah Anini, FRCN HEADQUARTERS

A New York-Based Media Watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists has ranked journalism as one of the most dangerous professions in recent years.

In other countries, especially advanced nations, Journalists are well paid with good insurance cover.

However, the reverse is the case in Nigeria where the hazards faced by journalists are not different, but with meager salary as take-home pay.

The murder of Dele Giwa in 1986 through a parcel bomb is one of the many examples of what the profession faces.

In the past years, the job-related killings recorded in the media industry included that of Edo Sule Ugbagwu of The Nation Newspapers who was murdered in Lagos, and the duo of Sunday Bwede and Nathan Dabak of the Light Bearer who were killed in their line of duties by a mob in Jos.

Records indicate that many journalists have suffered assault and even lost their lives while performing their duties in recent time.

From the litany of these mishaps, every Nigerian journalist needs to have good salary and insurance cover.

This is necessary for proper upkeep and taking care of their families in case of death.

In accepting this challenge, the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, introduced a special insurance scheme for practicing journalists with minimal successes.

Across the nations of the world, Journalism is a profession that is recognized.

This is because the media occupies a unique pride of place and influence, and it is empowered statutorily to hold government accountable to the people.

To say the fact, every profession has its hazards, but it is a known fact that the long hours of work, tight timelines and the electromagnetic radiation that is emitted from equipment used by journalists, all combine to create an unhealthy work environment which is replete with many stress-induced ailments.

As the fourth estate of the realm, media salaries and allowances should be enhanced in view of their contribution to the growth of civilization, democracy, economy, and international relations.

The current poor salary structure has left many media practitioners to resort to all manner of tricks including ethical violation to keep body and soul alive.

For instance, accepting reward and gratification popularly known as brown envelope, decency which requires that a journalist should dress and comport himself in a manner that conforms to public taste remain a challenge due to poor remuneration.

Whereas it is easy to assume that the changes Nigerians hope to see are obvious, it is critical to examine these expectations to deliberate on the vehicle that will be deployed to actualize these expectations.

Recent developments in the country have heightened concerns for an improved salary structure and insurance cover for journalists like their counterparts across the world.

With key stakeholders including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi as publishers and owners of media organizations as well as a broadcast Journalist Ajuri Ngalale as the spokesperson of the President that knows the word and duties of Journalists, the renumeration and welfare of Journalists is supposed to be improved to enhance their operational capacity.

Therefore, all employers of journalists, especially those under the aegis of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria and the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria should support the initiative.

Edited By Grace Namiji