* Abechi, Chair, NUJ, FCT council 


The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ,  Federal Capital Territory, FCT  Council weekend  urged  the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, initiate a financial bailout package for the Nigerian media industry, particularly those who have been unable to meet their salary/wages  obligations to staff.

The FCT Council rising from its first congress since the election of  Mr. Paul Ella Abechi as chairman,   stated amongst others in a 5-point communiqué  that as a result of the current economic downturn, several  media houses are finding it  difficult to survive in the market, and are in dire distress

“Many of them are currently owing arrears of salaries ranging from 3-23 months.  Nigerian journalists work under intolerable conditions, which non-payment of salaries is further aggravating.” The communiqué stated and appealed that  the Federal Government facilitate  conditional grants/loans to media owners/proprietors who are owing staff within the sector with feasible repayment plans.

The Congress maintained that the Federal Government  consider the appeal as  a matter of importance considering the contribution of the media to the development of Nigeria juxtaposed side by side other sectors like the Nigerian banking sector and Nollywood, Aviation, Insurance, Agriculture and even State Governments that have all benefitted from similar gesture

The Union further urged called on  government to as a matter of urgency and national importance, address perennial clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers along grazing routes across the country. It observed that such clashes have claimed thousands of innocent lives and caused distress to even elder statesmen like Chief Olu Falae stressing that “These clashes like the Boko Haram insurgency have claimed many lives and serious destruction to sources of livelihood running into billions of naira.’’ It  suggested  that  the FG to immediately create and maintain grazing land and routes on dedicated lush pastures as well as immediately address the humanitarian crises in the regions where they have occurred.

The FCT Council further commended  the FG's decision not to further devalue the naira, and urged the government to remain resolute in this decision as international financial institutions including portfolio investors will keep pushing for a reversal of such nationalistic stance in their selfish interests. It  however, suggested that a clear economic policy be evolved by the FG to tackle capital flight occurring  through over dependence on imported items and to encourage massive exportation and local manufacturing.


In the communiqué signed by Secretary of Council, Mrs Rafat Salami, the Union  expressed strong reservations  to the current regime of increased electricity tariff introduced by the Nigeria Electricity  Regulatory Commission by as high as 40% without commensurate improvement in quality of service.