The National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Waheed Odusile has
said that a journalist that is not paid his wage is a danger to the
society.
Drawing attention of the general public to the dangers nonpayment of
journalists wages posed to our democracy and development in an address
during the opening ceremony of the first NUJ national conference in
Abeokuta Ogun state Tuesday, Odusile described it as “ungodly act” which
should be stamped out.
He stated that a journalist that is hungry could call white, black and
vice-versa depending on what is placed for him on the table adding that
“this is unethical and the NUJ as a responsible professional body frowns
at it”.
While querying how the union could check or prevent such practice within
the media circle, he said the journalists’ jobs are made difficult by
these recalcitrant employers who will continue to use the journalist
without pay.
The NUJ President urged the National Assembly not to toy with an earlier
bill presented to the Assembly on non-payment of employees salaries as and
when due, whenever the proponents represent it for consideration.
He called on government at all levels to create conducive environment for
job creation so that many of the unemployed could be gainfully employed.
On the conference, Odusile said that the aim of the conference is to
discuss both National and Media issues.
According to him, “There is no better time than now because more than ever
before, Nigeria’s unity is being threatened and the discordant tunes are
getting louder and more vociferous.
“From the militant groups in the Niger Delta to the separatist movement in
the Southeast, and the terrorists across the Niger in the Northeast, the
fabrics of our existence as a nation are being attacked and the Nigerian
media cannot just afford to keep quiet and watch as agents of destruction
attempt daily to tear our country apart”, he said.
The aim of the summit, Odusile said is the furtherance of the Unions
repeated commitment to national unity which therefore provided a platform
for Nigerians to brainstorm over the various problems facing the country
and as well proffer solutions.
In furtherance of his speech, the NUJ national leader, stated that the
freedom of expression enthroned through democracy must be exercised with
restrain such that we do not talk the country into crisis or act in a
manner that will call to question the unity of Nigeria, maintaining that
“as a deliberate policy, the media must promote those issues that project
our unity, our strength, while not sweeping under the carpet the problems
that confront us as a nation and people.”
In his keynote address former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo blamed the trend of disunity in the country on the lapses of
media reportage occasioned by dissemination of rumour-based stories
without verification by journalists.
Chief Obasanjo, who was represented by former Executive Secretary,
National Universities Commission, Professor Peter Okebukola at the
conference noted that the media holds the key to national cohesion, such
that could prepare Nigeria for the leadership of the African continent in
this twenty-first century and called on journalists to strive to meet the
expectation.
The former president further challengedthe media sector to use the
advantage of the societal dependence on their information, to end the
divisive elements bedevilling the country in tune with the constitutional
mandate vested to them.
Ogun state Governor, Senator, Ibikunle Amosun, in his remark, advocated
stronger investigative drive in the practice of journalism in the country
to complement the efforts of government to serve the people better by
giving the needed information that could stimulate public support for
policies and programmes of the government.
Amosun commended the initiative of the NUJ to chart ways of encouraging
good governance and urged them to use the summit to advance the cause of
massive development in the country.