NUJ  Task Govts On Salvaging Media Industry from Total Collapse……….Sue for Life Insurance Cover For Journalists covering COVID-19 Pandemic

The  National President of NUJ, Comrade Chris Isiguzo who made the call in a release made available to Journalists in Nigeria said Media houses have continued to be pivotal in the fight against COVID-19 without any assistance from Government at all levels.

Comrade Isiguzo who the made it clear that the situation would persist as  Media Organizations have warned that very soon they may fold up because of the u conducive environment they are  operating on , adding that this should be allowed to happen.

He  called for Special Media Stabilization Fund (SMSF) for privately owned newspapers and broadcast Media for the sustenance of government’s strategy in its efforts to contain the spread of the Coronavirus as well as ensuring that the fight against the pandemic was not jeopardized.

The NUJ President further drew the attention of the Federal and State Governments to the fact that Journalists in conflict situations were exposed to grave danger as a result of their professional calling and sued for life insurance for Journalists who are on the Frontline in the coverage of the COVID-19 Pandemic as well as provision of adequate and effective Personal Protection Equipment and palliatives to ease hardships they experienced daily in course of performing their duties. while calling on all stakeholders to enhance salaries, allowances, pensions and general condition of service for media professionals.

According to him, “It is also important to remind government that while devising strategies to contain Covid-19, it has become imperative for a well designed economic initiative to be considered to address a likely economic recession that may follow considering that even before the outbreak of the virus, Nigeria had been designated the poverty capital of the world, with large segment of the population living below the poverty line.