Date Published: 09/28/11

NUJ urges FG, state governments to improve media funding

Malam Mohammad Garba, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has urged the federal and state governments to improve the funding of their media organisations.

He made the call in Gusau on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy call on the Acting Governor of Zamfara, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed.

Garba noted that in spite of the enormous contributions of the media to the fulfilment of the Nigerian democracy, media organisations, particularly the government-owned media outfits, were still operating within a difficult environment.

``Although there is global economic downturn, the media deserve an operating environment that could improve the productivity of journalists and enable them to serve the public better,’’ he said.

Garba said that federal media organisations were currently operating under harsh conditions because the Federal Government had continued to slash their statutory allocations.

He stressed that the media were a capital-intensive social service which required special attention and sufficient funding to enable it to meet its public obligations.

He, however, noted that the Federal Government had approved 22 per-cent weighing allowance for journalists working in its media organisations, adding that the implementation of the new allowance would soon commence.

Garba urged state-owned and private media organisations to implement the weighing allowance, as approved by the Federal Government.

Responding, the acting governor said that the media played pivotal roles in national development, pledging the state government’s willingness to partner with the NUJ in efforts aimed at making life better and more meaningful to the citizens.

Mohammed said that the government would strive to fund its media organisations adequately to enable them to function effectively.

He said that state government would strive to implement any welfare package approved for journalists in the country.

(NAN)