NGE to governments: Pay outstanding gratuities, pensions of retired editors 

The Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) has appealed to federal and state governments to pay up all the outstanding gratuities and pensions of retired editors and other classes of retirees to make life better for them after retirement.

The body also appealed to its members to explore other revenue yielding ventures or business prospects to ensure that life after their editorial assignments is not nightmarish.

In a communiqué signed after the conference in Port Harcourt, by its President Funke Egbemode and Secretary General Victoria Ibanga, said that the media industry has been, and is still, experiencing a crisis of recession proportions, even it called on government to do more to ensure a conducive environment for the media to flourish.

“Appealed to the Federal and state governments to pay outstanding gratuities and pensions of retired Editors and other classes of retirees to make life after retirement less stressful.

“That Editors should, in addition to their editorial functions, concern themselves with the business side of the media industry to ensure that their establishments thrive, and that their venture into business upon retirement will be based on informed knowledge gained while in service.

“That the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and other media stakeholders should collaborate to ensure the setting up of newsprint production companies and resuscitation of the moribund one in Oku Iboku, Akwa Ibom State, to address the crisis of high cost of imported newsprints.

“That Mass Communication Departments and Journalism training institutions should include business courses in their curricula so as to prepare future editors for the business side of the media industry.”

The Guild, while commending the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their efforts aimed at curtailing the activities of insurgents, militants and other groups threatening peace and security of the country, regretted “the encroachment on the its land in Guzape, Abuja and appreciated the promise by the FCT Minister to redress the situation.”

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