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

Mr Ajaero made the call when he visited the President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Chris Isiguzo in Abuja.

He explained that while journalists played significant roles in the fight for independence and current democracy Nigerians were enjoying, it was unfortunate that the same people were begging for their salary payment.

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

Mr Ajaero said, “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 Na Canadayear, other journalists will not write a story on such injustice.’’

He added, “I am advocating consultative machinery that we should hold every two years, to have a negotiation with media employers in the county to fix minimum wage for journalists. Also, there should be pension that journalists should enjoy after retirement from the job. Insurance cover is another thing that journalists should enjoy to make them work better.”

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

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

“Most reporters spend their little salaries on transportation to do their job. This is unacceptable. We are in the era of social and online media. There is also the need to regulate online media practice.

It should be regulated in such a way that they will be part of NUJ. You need to accommodate them and know what they are doing,” Mr Ajaero said.

On his part, Mr Isiguzo said that the NUJ was doing a lot to address abnormalities in the practice of journalism in the county.

He said, “We are currently looking at the code of ethics to come out with a review that will also stipulate the responsibilities and obligations of employers to media workers. Again, our checks off dues don’t come to the NUJ. Where it goes, we don’t know. That is one key issue that needs to be addressed.’’

(NAN)