The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has frowned at the over bearing influence of media owners aimed at regulatings the practice of Journalism through the instrumentality of  ombudsmen in the country.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union held at Akure, Ondo State recently, the NUJ said the idea of ombudsmen is an impediment to the global practice of journalism which is regulated by a council constituted by the stakeholders in the media industry and backed by law.

The NUJ therefore called on all members of the union not to identify with the practice as it promotes the interest of media owners to the detriment of practicing journalists.

The communiqué further stated that rather than dissipate energy on the establishment of  ombudsmen, media owners are advised to find ways of ensuring prompt payment of salaries to journalists in their  employ as and when due.

The union, however, said that it may be forced to take appropriate steps to address the growing trend of non-payment of salaries as well as arbitrary sacking of Journalists, adding that the union also condemned in strong terms the casualisation of journalists under the guise of free-lancing as plans are in the offing to stop the practice.

It recalled that union demanded the establishment of a Nigerian Press Council 37 years ago, but regretted that for the past 28 years, the media and the government have dialogued without solution over legislation concerning the council, stressing that the union had reiterated its confidence in council as earlier subscribed to in 2002 by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) as the most credible organ to regulate the practice of journalism in Nigeria.

However, the union lauded the good intention of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa in sponsoring the NPC Amendment Bill which clearly aims at promoting the welfare of journalists and ensuring high ethical standard of journalism practice in the country.

The union expressed optimism that the technical committee headed by Prince Tony Momoh would expunge those aspects of the Bill which are offensive, while retaining those provisions that promote the welfare of journalists.

The eleven point communiqué also believed that the welfare of journalist is paramount in promoting high ethical standards and should not be tempered with as contained in the original Bill, adding “these include wages and remuneration as well as insurance policy for practicing journalists”.

It therefore called on journalists across the country to familarise themselves with the proposed Bill so as to ovoid being misled or brainwashed by elements whose aim has been to keep journalists in perpetual slavery.

Collins Barasimeye & Inasam Ichi