NLC advocates better pay, insurance, pension for journalists

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, has advocated for better pay, insurance cover and pension for journalists across the country.

Ajaero made the call during a courtesy visit to the President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Chris Isiguzo, in Abuja.

He pointed out that journalists played significant roles in the fight for independence and current democracy Nigerians are enjoying, adding that it is unfortunate some of them are begging for their salaries to be paid.

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The labour leader said journalism is getting worse by the day, though technology has enhanced the practice.

“The welfare of journalists is being underplayed. While journalists are a group of professionals fighting for everyone, nobody is for them, they are not even for themselves.

“Journalists do not have weekends, public holidays or festive seasons. They work and report activities of people that are enjoying weekends, public holidays and festivities.

“Even when a journalist is sacked or not paid for one year, other journalists will not write a story on such injustice.

“I am advocating for a consultative machinery that we should hold every two years, to have a negotiation with all media employers in the county to fix minimum wage for journalists.

“Also, there should be a pension that all journalists should enjoy after retiring from the job. Insurance cover is another thing that Journalists should enjoy to make them work better,” he added.

The labour leader stressed that non-payment of journalists’ salary should not be encouraged and should be treated as a criminal offence.

Ajaero acknowledged that, though it has not been easy for publishers, he said that should not warrant them not to do the needful for their employees, particularly payment of their salaries