* Warns against harassment by security agents
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Monday, hinted at plans to work with media stakeholders to negotiate a uniform salary template for practicing journalists in the country.
The NLC also frowned at the arbitrary ‘abduction’ and detention of journalists by security agents, warning that such harassment is not acceptable in a democracy.
Thus, the labour movement called for immediate inclusion of workers and employers’ representatives in the governing structures of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).
Speaking when he paid a courtesy visit to the national headquarters of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Abuja, the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero said that journalists have continued to suffer neglect despite the risks associated with their job, and sacrifices they make in nation building.
He noted with dismay that journalists fight for others, while nobody fights them, stressing that the issue of insurance should be taken seriously owing of the risk involved in their profession.
He said that journalists were deeply involved in the fight for the restoration of the current democratic dispensation.
“Unlike those days when journalists were running from one business centre to the other to transmit their reports, technology has now made things easier.
“But beyond that, the welfare of journalists is being neglected; as journalists we advocate for everybody but nobody for us .
“We fight for others and not for ourselves. There are media houses that have not paid salaries for almost one year. I think we should all meet and talk to ourselves.
“I am advocating a consultative machinery that will, even if it is every two years, negotiate with all media employers in the country a minimum wage or industry salary benchmark an journalists.”
Ajaero said this benchmark can be further classified into those employed by the Federal government, states and the private sector.
He said that journalists are now endangered species.
According to him, despite the new technology, the practice of journalism in Nigeria is getting worse in terms of security and welfare.
He appealed to the NUJ to join hands with the labour movement to seek ways of resolving the challenges facing journalists.
Ajaero, who described NUJ as his union, lamented that journalists are in a peculiar situation regarding the issue of welfare because no one negotiates for them.
The NLC boss further deplored the manner in which the NUJ was moved from its former office in the nation’s capital.
He said efforts should be made to recover the former premises.
He said that the NLC will like to work with the NUJ leadership to see what can be done to proffer solutions for the problems and challenges bedeviling the industry.
Speaking on the treatment recently being meted to journalists by security agents, Ajaero said that the freedom of the press should not be hindered in any form by the government.
He said where a journalist breaches the law, he should be prosecuted according to the law not kidnapped.
While welcoming the NLC president and his delegation, the NUJ National President, Mr. Chris Isiguzo thanked Ajaero for identifying some of the key challenges of the media profession in Nigeria.
He said that NUJ has also proposed an accompanying Bill of Rights to protect the rights, welfare and interests of practicing journalists.
Isiguzo also said that organised labour should find a way of carrying the interest of journalists along whenever they are protesting worker’s welfare.