May Day: Funds stop NUJ FCT


The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council has congratulated members on this year’s Workers’ Day, urging them to uphold the ethics of the profession by insisting on objectivity. 

A statement in Abuja on Tuesday by council secretary, Ochiaka Ugwu, quoted the council chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche as tasking members to always hold tenaciously to the ethics of the profession.

Ogbeche, however, said NUJ FCT would not observe this year’s Workers’ Day celebration due to paucity of funds.

 “As we wish our colleagues all the best as this day is marked, Council reiterates the call for journalists’ employment and social rights to be respected and improved upon, especially at this time of economic downturn”.

While pledging council’s total commitment to fighting for the  improvement of the working conditions and social protection for journalists, Ogbeche said, “It is also particularly important that government at all levels do not allow employers to use the economic crisis as an excuse to dismiss vulnerable employees or cut back on crucial benefits.

“We believe that labour legislation must be strengthened because it has too many loopholes which too often lead to personal interests being put before workers’ rights.

“Another crucial issue for us is the persistent non-payment of salaries by private media owners which the NUJ national body is working hard to correct”.

Ogbeche said it was important that much more would be done to protect journalists who are engaged in precarious work conditions without commensurate pay and adequate protection.

He, however, revealed the plan of council to celebrate the Press Freedom Day slated for May 2 which would be in partnership with UNESCO, urging journalists to accord the event the importance it deserves as issues affecting journalism profession and journalists will be discussed.

Saraki, PDP laud workers’ contribution to national development 

By Taiye Odewale and Abdulrahman Zakariyau

President of the Senate, Dr  Bukola Saraki has saluted Nigerian workers for their tireless contributions to the socio-economic development of the country, in spite of fluctuating economic realities.

Saraki, in a message of goodwill to mark the 2019 Workers’ Day celebration, signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu Tuesday commended the leadership and members of the organised labour for their patriotism in often choosing dialogue rather than industrial action in resolving trade disputes.

He expressed the hope that workers would be encouraged to always put in their best in working to uplift and sustain the nation’s economy, in view of the recent signing into law of a new minimum wage of N30,000.00.

“No nation can develop without a virile and agile workforce,” Saraki said. “It is trite to say that workers are the mainstay of our nation’s economy, since no policy of government, no matter how remote, will succeed without the commitment and collaboration of workers saddled with implementation.

“However, having interacted with Nigerian workers and their leadership times without number, I can say without fear of contradiction that the nation’s workforce is among the best in the continent,” he said.


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