The president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has called for better pay, insurance, and pension for journalists in Nigeria.
During a visit to Chris Isiguzo, the president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Abuja on Tuesday, Ajaero said it was sad many journalists are owed salaries by their employers.
The labor leader believes the field is becoming worse daily.
“The welfare of journalists is being underplayed," he said.
"While journalists are a group of professionals fighting for everyone, nobody is for them. They are not even for themselves.
“Journalists do not have weekends, public holidays, or festive seasons. They work and report the activities of people who are enjoying weekends, public holidays, and festivities.
“Even when a journalist is sacked or not paid for one year, other journalists will not write a story on such injustice,” he added.
The labor leader advocated a "consultative machinery" every two years to negotiate with all media employers in the county to fix a minimum wage for journalists.
“Also, there should be pension that all journalists should enjoy after retiring from the job. Insurance cover is another thing that Journalists should enjoy to make them work better," he added.
