As Nigeria today joins
the rest of the international community to mark 2017 World Press
Freedom Day, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ondo State Council
has called on the Federal, state governments and other private media
Owners to give priority to adequate funding of projects that will
enhance welfare and performance of media professionals in the country.
The Union’s State Chairman, James Sowole and the State Secretary, Leke
Adegbite, in a Press Statement issued in Akure to commemorate the day,
describes poor funding and salary of journalists in the country as
unacceptable considering number of hours they spend on duty.
NUJ
specifically expresses satisfaction with performance of journalists in
the state particularly during the recent November 26, 2016 governorship
election and inauguration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in February,
this year where they conducted themselves professionally.
The
statement urges the state government to fast track efforts in revamping
facilities at the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation, OSRC to enable
workers to deliver their duties efficiently and diligently.
The
Union also calls on the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to approve
without further delay, payment of weigh-in allowance of NUJ members at
the state Ministry of Information that was suspended few years ago,
while qualified senior staff of the Ministry should be considered for
the position of Permanent Secretary in the spirit of fairness.
The statement charges the presidency and security operatives to urgently
stop unnecessary harassment of journalists at public functions while
also urging police to urgently bring to book killers of a radio
journalist, Famous Giobaro, who was recently murdered in Bayelsa state.
The Union therefore felicitates with journalists on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day.
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