Activist Charges FG On Media Special Salary

A human rights activist, Mr Chris Alozie, has urged the Federal Government to implement the media special salary without further delay.

The call, according to Alozie has become imperative “ in view of the enormous contributions of media workers to national development”.

Alozie told newsmen  in Nsukka, Enugu State, on Tuesday that one of the ways to encourage media workers “who fought to ensure that democracy was enthroned in the country is to pay them handsomely.

“Without journalists, the democracy we are enjoying today could not have been possible.

“Some of them like late Dele Giwa laid down their lives to ensure that democracy was enthroned.

“Journalists in the country have contributed much to national development.”

He said that journalists encountered many risks in carrying out their daily functions, stressing that some had suffered various attacks “because of their news reports on corrupt politicians, armed robbers, hired assassins, as well as kidnappers.

“I, therefore, urge the government to implement the Media Special Salary without further delay.

“The government should also institute a life insurance scheme for journalists as it is done in western countries.”

The activist commended the Nigeria Union of Journalists for making efforts to ensure that fakes in the profession were flushed out and urged the union to sustain the fight until it was rid of quacks.

“I commend the NUJ in its determination to flush out fake journalists who dent the image of the profession,” he said.

Alozie expressed regrets over the “uncooperative attitude of some people who make it difficult for journalists by refusing to give the required information that would help to expose bribery and corruption cases in the country.

“We should all understand that journalists are risking their lives in order to make things better for all of us”, Alozie said.