The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has urged some media owners to stop owing workers salaries.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its conference in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State capital, the editors said journalists’ working conditions should be improved.
“Media owners must ensure regular payment of salaries as well as provide improved working conditions commensurate with the efforts of media practitioners,” NGE said.
The communiqué was signed by NGE’s president Garba Deen Mohammad and General Secretary Victoria Ibanga.
About 300 Editors drawn from the print, electronic and online media across the country attended the conference which held from August 26 to 30 and featured presentation of papers from scholars and giants in the media industry.
They include Professor Etannibi Alemika of the Department of Sociology, University of Jos; Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation, Abuja, Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma; and Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard Newspapers Mr. Gbenga Adefaye.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) was the Special Guest of Honour. He was represented by Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information Dr. (Mrs) Folashade Yemi-Esan. Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson was the Chief Host
The editors urged the media to remain steadfast in their reportage of events as well as be facilitators and agents of the positive change that Nigerians desire.
NGE said Nigerians must unite to build a nation that is prosperous and secure, irrespective of political, ethnic and religious differences.
It said steps taken so far by the President Buhari-led government to tackle terrorism are commendable. It urged Nigerians not to politicise or ethnicise the war against the scourge, stressing that much more must be done by all stakeholders to ensure that every part of country is secure.
On graft, NGE said: “The present administration’s war against corruption is commendable but that every effort must be made to ensure that it is not selective. Every Nigerian must support the battle to eradicate the monster which has adversely affected the country.”
The communiqué added: “Media practitioners must play their agenda setting role and make conscious effort to raise the level and quality of public debate by bringing issues of national interest to the fore.
“Editors must strive continually to improve their skills and acquire new skills that would prepare them for life outside the Editorial chair. Editors must do more to bring about the change Nigerians are yearning for by playing the watchdog role assigned them by Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution.
“Nigerians must unite and support efforts of the government of President Buhari to revive the nation’s economy. There must be a conscious effort to re-orient Nigerians to embrace values that would bring about the desired change.
“That the Governors’ Forum make more efforts to build synergy among themselves and function as a Peer Review Mechanism, for sharing experiences and learning from each other policies and programmes that would make their states better.”
The editors praised President Buhari for appointing two past NGE presidents Mr. Femi Adesina and Mallam Garba Shehu as his Special Adviser and Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity.
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