Set up welfare scheme for indigent journalists – University don tells NUJ

A lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication and Media Technology, Lead City University, Ibadan, Dr Bayonle Busari, has enjoined the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, to set up a welfare scheme that will cater for indigent journalists across the country.

Busari, who doubles as Coordinator of Postgraduate Programme in the department, made the call while delivering a paper titled, ‘Role of Media Practitioners in Evaluation of Fulfilment of 2023 Campaign Promises’, during the 2023 Press Week of Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, Oyo State Council, on Monday.

Some of the personalities at the event are National Trustee of NUJ Zone B, Adebayo Akamo, NUJ Chairman, Comrade Ademola Babalola, and Chairman of the Chapel, Mr Raji Adebayo.

Busari, while addressing the gathering noted that journalists are expected to constantly put elected leaders on the spot in order to ensure that the promises made during campaigns are fulfilled.

He maintained that as part of their duties in the society, media practitioners have a role to set the agenda for the society in which they operate.

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According to him, it is the responsibility of media professionals to determine what the society discusses, how it is discussed and the effect of the discourse.

He also urged journalists to shun all tendencies that will expose them to patronage from politicians, which he said may make them to compromise their integrity.

The don while speaking further, lamented the condition of many journalists in the country who are being owed salaries, a situation which he said has made them willing tools in the hands of politicians and political parties.

He however advised the NUJ to set up a welfare scheme from where indigent journalists can benefit. He maintained that this will help to reduce the effect of the precarious situation which some of the journalists face.

“The relevance of the topic can be situated in the Agenda Setting Theory, which places a duty on the media to set the agenda for the society in which they operate. This means that it is the responsibility of media professionals to determine what the society discusses, how it is discussed, and the effect of the discourse.

“Secondly, the relevance of the topic comes by virtue of the role and expectation from the larger society, for the media to put leaders on the spot and hold them accountable on their electioneering promises as well as the discharge of the primary responsibilities of government.

“This is a duty that journalists owe the public. This duty, primarily, includes putting a tab on campaign promises made by politicians and the extent to which these promises are being kept. Where it is observed that politicians are deviating from the pact that they have signed with the people, the media owe it as a duty to raise the red flag and call such leader to the probable failure.

“I will call on the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to rise and take up the gauntlet by ensuring that all journalists who have been so employed are paid commensurate remuneration by their employers.

“This may require putting in place an appropriate legal framework to give life to this proposal. Secondly, there is a need to have an insurance scheme for journalists in order to mitigate the hardship and risk which they are prone to by the nature of their calling.

“Finally, I will also implore the leadership of the NUJ across board to set up a welfare scheme from where indigent journalists can benefit in order to reduce the effect of the precarious situation which some of them face, making them willing tools in the hands of politicians and political parties.”