The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has drawn attention to the financial difficulties confronting media professionals in the country, calling for urgent government intervention to prevent poor remuneration from further weakening the journalism industry.
The union believes that journalists should receive salaries that reflect the demands of their profession, particularly considering their responsibilities in reporting public affairs, scrutinising government policies and providing Nigerians with information needed to make informed decisions.
As part of efforts to address the situation, the NUJ has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish a national salary arrangement specifically designed to improve the earnings and welfare of journalists working in both public and private media organisations.
The appeal was made by the union’s National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, at the fourth Annual Milestone Recognition of Media Icons held in Abuja.
The ceremony brought together personalities from the media industry and other sectors under the theme, “Strengthening Democracy Through Responsible Journalism and Good Governance.”
Speaking at the gathering, Yahaya questioned why journalists had continued to receive relatively poor financial rewards despite the demanding nature of their work and the important role they play in society.
He observed that the profession requires considerable commitment, often involving long working hours, difficult assignments and exposure to security threats, yet the financial benefits available to many practitioners remain inadequate.
The NUJ president specifically challenged the Federal Government to consider journalists when introducing improved remuneration packages for professionals in other sectors.
He pointed to the recent salary increase approved for judicial workers, arguing that media practitioners should also benefit from similar government consideration.
“If the president can approve and increase the salary structure for judicial workers, why not journalists? The time is now,” he said.
Yahaya explained that the union was not relying exclusively on public appeals to achieve its objectives. He disclosed that discussions had commenced with other professional associations towards developing legislation that would provide a sustainable solution to the welfare problems affecting journalists.
The initiative, he said, would involve preparing a bill for presentation to the National Assembly, where lawmakers would be expected to consider measures capable of improving the conditions under which journalists operate.
Another area receiving attention is the situation of reporters covering dangerous assignments. According to Yahaya, the NUJ is discussing possible additional financial benefits for journalists working in environments where their safety and personal security could be threatened.
He identified the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation as one of the institutions involved in the ongoing discussions.
The union also intends to approach state governors to secure broader support for improved remuneration, with the aim of ensuring that journalists outside Abuja are not excluded from any welfare arrangement eventually introduced.
Beyond the financial concerns raised by the NUJ, the event also provided an opportunity for discussions on the relationship between government and the media, particularly the need to protect journalists’ independence.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, used his keynote address to restate his administration’s position on press freedom, transparency and public accountability.
Represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Johnson Erijo, the governor maintained that democratic governance would be difficult to sustain without a media environment where journalists could freely question government decisions.
He argued that the press should be allowed to examine public policies, investigate matters of public interest and report issues affecting citizens without fear of punishment or intimidation.
Oborevwori also reflected on the difficult history of journalism in Nigeria, recalling the contributions made by media professionals during the independence struggle and the opposition to military rule.
He noted that the country’s return to civilian government in 1999 was preceded by years of resistance in which journalists played significant roles, despite facing threats, arrests, harassment and other forms of persecution.
For the governor, those historical experiences should serve as a reminder that press freedom cannot be taken for granted.
He drew attention to Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which assigns the media the responsibility of monitoring governance and ensuring that public authorities remain answerable to the people.
However, he warned that the freedom enjoyed by journalists must be accompanied by a strong commitment to professional standards.
Oborevwori expressed concern about the circulation of unverified information, inflammatory statements and misleading reports, particularly across social media platforms.
He said such practices could damage the reputation of individuals, encourage unnecessary conflicts and weaken citizens’ confidence in public institutions.
He therefore urged media organisations and individual practitioners to place greater importance on checking information before publication, presenting opposing positions fairly and distinguishing established facts from speculation.
The governor made it clear that ethical journalism should not prevent reporters from exposing wrongdoing or questioning those in authority.
Rather, he maintained that criticism of government should be based on credible information instead of personal attacks or deliberately distorted narratives.
He also cautioned public officials against treating journalists as publicity officers whose only responsibility is to promote government achievements.
According to him, an administration that genuinely believes in transparency must be prepared to answer questions and accept scrutiny from independent media organisations.
Yahaya, in his response, acknowledged the relationship between the Delta State Government and journalists, commending Oborevwori for what he described as a favourable environment for media practice.
He stated that the union had not documented any incident involving the intimidation, harassment or arrest of journalists by the state government throughout the governor’s tenure.
The NUJ president equally recognised some of the administration’s activities in infrastructure development, debt repayment and support programmes targeting vulnerable women and children.
Meanwhile, former NUJ National President and chairman of the occasion, Christopher Isiguzo, MFR, urged journalists to approach political reporting with particular caution as preparations for the next general election gather momentum.
He warned that political communication could become increasingly divisive if media organisations allowed propaganda and unverified claims to dominate their coverage.
Isiguzo said journalists must resist pressure from political interests and avoid turning their platforms into channels for promoting candidates or attacking perceived opponents.
He emphasised that the media’s responsibility was to provide citizens with reliable information rather than intensify disagreements within the political space.
“We must inform without inflaming, hold power accountable without becoming partisan actors, and report with speed without sacrificing accuracy and verification,” he said.
He further argued that the country’s democratic development should not be determined solely by which political party wins an election.
According to him, Nigerians should ultimately benefit from democratic governance through responsible leadership, access to justice, improved security and better economic and social conditions.
“Regardless of who wins or loses elections, Nigeria must always win,” Isiguzo added.
The event also recognised several individuals for their contributions to journalism, leadership, public service and community development.
Among the personalities honoured were Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori; Azubuike Ishiekwene, Senior Vice Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP Group Limited; Comrade Franz Ndulue; and Olori Janet-MBA Afolabi, a CNN award-winning journalist and Queen of Apomu Kingdom.
Others included High Chief Sewude Adeyinka Amosu, Tabitha Sani Kangiwa, Jibril Muhammed-Bello, Segun Adeniyi and Comrade Mukhtar Mohammed Gidado.
The recognition ceremony concluded with renewed attention on issues affecting the media profession, particularly the need to make journalism economically sustainable while preserving the independence, credibility and professional standards required to support democratic governance.
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