By Meletus EZE
The Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) has called for the establishment of a stabilisation fund for the media industry to address the issue of nonpayment of salaries to practitioners.
The newly elected President of NUJ, Mr Chris Isiguzo, made the call at a news conference held at the National Secretariat of the union, on Thursday in Abuja.
Isiguzo said that the union would collaborate with stakeholders like the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) and others to work out modalities for the establishment of the fund.
According to him,“NUJ is committed to championing the process of establishing the fund because it is of great concern for journalists to repeated be thrown into labour market each time their media outfits become insolvent.
“As the first practical action towards addressing the issue; we propose for the establishment of a Stabilisation Fund for the media industry immediately after 2019 General Elections.
“If we have the fund, it can lend money to the struggling media organisations to tide over the bad times.
“We once have Special Intervention Fund for the Aviation Industry and the Power sector and partnering with the government to have one for the media industry in form of stabilisation fund is long overdue,” he said.
The NUJ boss said that his administration would initiate constant interface and robust engagement of employers of labour both public and private to ensure not only living wage but regular payment of salaries.
Isiguzo assured that the new Media Salary Structure would be pursued with vigour to ensure success, adding that the significance of adequate welfare for journalist could not be overemphasized.
He, however, pledged to restored dignity and respect to the profession by striving to make it not an all comers job through the elimination of quackery and other unwholesome practices.
He also promised to work toward raising the standards of the profession with a view to giving a pride of place to the journalism as a profession.
Similarly, the NUJ Boss said that the union would collaborate with relevant bodies both at home and abroad to enhance the capacity of media practitioners in the country.
