NEDU MARK, Yenagoa
National President, Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Waheed Odusile has called on the leadership of the Nigerian Guild of Editors ( NGE) as well as other media managers in the country to ensure the regular payment of salaries of journalists employed in their employment.
Odusile also called on the NGE to ensure the total eradication of quacks in the media industry, noting that the problem has brought disgrace and created a major challenge in the industry.
The NUJ president spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Thursday, during the official opening of the 11th session of the NGE with its theme; “Nigeria, the change we need; Role of the Editors”
According to Odusile, “as the NGE we implore you to assist to pay the salaries of reporters under your establishment.”
The NUJ president also lamented the role of what he called ‘social media reporters’, saying they are not professionals and do not have requisite skills to practice as journalists.
Odusile described the activities of the social media reporters as a huge challenge to the profession and called for a legislation to check the acts of quackery and untrained persons in the country.
“This class of persons in the social media and quacks are the ones disgracing this noble profession. NUJ is highly disturbed by the practices of these people,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Acting President, NGE, Mallam Garba Shehu Mohammed, called on President Buhari to tackle insurgency in the country and provide a better society for the masses.
Mohammed urged Buhari to fight corruption in the country and give the citizens a sense of responsibility and belonging.
“We want the President Buhari government to guarantee safety of lives and property, fight armed robbery and wanton killing of persons. We want to have a country with independence of the judiciary, free from threats and intimidation.
“NGF expects better wages for the workers, functional education, employments for the teeming youths and total freedom. We equally expect positive changes to happen to us and our dear country, Nigeria,” he said.
