Information credited to the General Manager, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Mr Banji Sarumoh, has revealed that Nigerian journalists have been categorized amongst the least paid in the world. Mr Sarumoh, who was speaking on Wednesday in Ilorin at a session tagged “NUJ Parliament”, organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kwara chapter, stated that Nigerian journalists had the worst conditions of service in the world.
Sarumoh, who believed that the media had played a pivotal role in the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria, also noted that among its drawbacks were poor funding and proliferation of media houses, which had brought about the impoverishment of journalists. He urged the NUJ to clamp down on media houses that could not pay staff salaries.
In his words, “Nigerian journalists have the worst condition of service in the world and this is because of proliferation of media houses. What journalists collect in Nigeria today is very ridiculous when compared to the job we do… The NUJ should guard against the proliferation; why must someone set up media outfit, when he knows he cannot pay salary?”
He also admonished journalists to embark on developmental and investigative journalism and be conscientious while discharging their duties. He said there was need for journalists to avoid unnecessary romance with politicians, to give the profession good image.
