The National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Waheed Odusile has<\/p>\n
said that a journalist that is not paid his wage is a danger to the<\/p>\n
society.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Drawing attention of the general public to the dangers nonpayment of<\/p>\n
journalists wages posed to our democracy and development in an address<\/p>\n
during the opening ceremony of the first NUJ national conference in<\/p>\n
Abeokuta Ogun state Tuesday, Odusile described it as \u201cungodly act\u201d which<\/p>\n
should be stamped out.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He stated that a journalist that is hungry could call white, black and<\/p>\n
vice-versa depending on what is placed for him on the table adding that<\/p>\n
\u201cthis is unethical and the NUJ as a responsible professional body frowns<\/p>\n
at it\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While querying how the union could check or prevent such practice within<\/p>\n
the media circle, he said the journalists\u2019 jobs are made difficult by<\/p>\n
these recalcitrant employers who will continue to use the journalist<\/p>\n
without pay.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The NUJ President urged the National Assembly not to toy with an earlier<\/p>\n
bill presented to the Assembly on non-payment of employees salaries as and<\/p>\n
when due, whenever the proponents represent it for consideration.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He called on government at all levels to create conducive environment for<\/p>\n
job creation so that many of the unemployed could be gainfully employed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
On the conference, Odusile said that the aim of the conference is to<\/p>\n
discuss both National and Media issues.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
According to him, \u201cThere is no better time than now because more than ever<\/p>\n
before, Nigeria\u2019s unity is being threatened and the discordant tunes are<\/p>\n
getting louder and more vociferous.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the militant groups in the Niger Delta to the separatist movement in<\/p>\n
the Southeast, and the terrorists across the Niger in the Northeast, the<\/p>\n
fabrics of our existence as a nation are being attacked and the Nigerian<\/p>\n
media cannot just afford to keep quiet and watch as agents of destruction<\/p>\n
attempt daily to tear our country apart\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The aim of the summit, Odusile said is the furtherance of the Unions<\/p>\n
repeated commitment to national unity which therefore provided a platform<\/p>\n
for Nigerians to brainstorm over the various problems facing the country<\/p>\n
and as well proffer solutions.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In furtherance of his speech, the NUJ national leader, stated that the<\/p>\n
freedom of expression enthroned through democracy must be exercised with<\/p>\n
restrain such that we do not talk the country into crisis or act in a<\/p>\n
manner that will call to question the unity of Nigeria, maintaining that<\/p>\n
\u201cas a deliberate policy, the media must promote those issues that project<\/p>\n
our unity, our strength, while not sweeping under the carpet the problems<\/p>\n
that confront us as a nation and people.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In his keynote address former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun<\/p>\n
Obasanjo blamed the trend of disunity in the country on the lapses of<\/p>\n
media reportage occasioned by dissemination of rumour-based stories<\/p>\n
without verification by journalists.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Chief Obasanjo, who was represented by former Executive Secretary,<\/p>\n
National Universities Commission, Professor Peter Okebukola at the<\/p>\n
conference noted that the media holds the key to national cohesion, such<\/p>\n
that could prepare Nigeria for the leadership of the African continent in<\/p>\n
this twenty-first century and called on journalists to strive to meet the<\/p>\n
expectation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The former president further challengedthe media sector to use the<\/p>\n
advantage of the societal dependence on their information, to end the<\/p>\n
divisive elements bedevilling the country in tune with the constitutional<\/p>\n
mandate vested to them.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ogun state Governor, Senator, Ibikunle Amosun, in his remark, advocated<\/p>\n
stronger investigative drive in the practice of journalism in the country<\/p>\n
to complement the efforts of government to serve the people better by<\/p>\n
giving the needed information that could stimulate public support for<\/p>\n
policies and programmes of the government.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Amosun commended the initiative of the NUJ to chart ways of encouraging<\/p>\n
good governance and urged them to use the summit to advance the cause of<\/p>\n
massive development in the country.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":52361,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n