Kalshingi H Jedidah
Presidential aspirant of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ Alhaji Abdulwaheed Odusile has promised a better media salary structure that would tackle the lingering challenges of non payment of journalists by media owners in the country. He said, the National body of the NUJ would work towards enacting a law that would render non payment of salaries illegal in the country if elected as national president of the union.
Mr Odusile who was in Gombe yesterday with his team for presidential campaign said lack of good media salary structure has been negatively affecting the journalism profession. He said, the NUJ under his watch would ensure that the law protects the rights of journalists in regards to rights to their salaries and wages.
“We must stop this culture of non payment of salaries of journalists, we must be treated as professionals, we need a special media salary structure, so that when we go out to perform our duties as journalists we would not look up to anybody for assistance or gratification” he added.
The NUJ presidential aspirant said, what motivated him to contest for the position was to serve. He added that he had lined up series of programmes that would transform the union and restore its dignity.
Odusile who is currently a member of Nigeria Guild of Editors with many years of experience in the journalism profession, also promised to focus on professionalism by making emphasise on training and retraining of journalists, eradication of quackery, certification and registration of members, strengthen the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), among many other things.
Chairman NUJ Gombe State council Alhassan Yahaya who welcomed the campaign team to Gombe, stated that the state council was united and would remain united in decision. He called on members to remain focused and ensure high level of professionalism and strictly adhere to the ethics of the profession while discharging their duties.
