Rivers State journalists working in private print media Houses may smile soon as plans are under way to better their lots, welfare wise. This assurance was made by the chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists; Rivers State Council, Comrade Ayo Tamuno while chatting with our correspondent shortly after the medical female football team played a 1 – 1 draw with practicing female journalists of Rivers State.
The concerned chairman of NUJ, Rivers State lamented the situation and plight of journalists working in privately owned print media houses, mostly the local tabloid, how they were not paid, he frown at the pathetic situation where local tabloid do not consider paying their reporters.
He admitted that the owners of these privately owned print media houses have their challenges hence he has planned to go into discussion with them to map out a possible way those working for them could atleast take home something.
“It true that they too have their challenges but it will be fair when you are having five journalists working for you, you need to settle him or her. That shows that you have helped the government in the area of employment.
The Rivers State NUJ boss lamented the way local tabloids are springing out on daily basis without the required standard. “People just register papers (tabloid) as he could manage in the market, and he is on as a publisher, it marvel me” he said.
He said to help out in the situation, his council will approach the state governor to see whether he cloud grant the Rivers State privately owned local tabloid certain amount of grants as was the days of Sir. Peter Odili, where media houses were given grant to leverage them.
“By God’s grace Rivers State journalists working in privately owned print media house will smile by the time my council’s mechanism, we will put in place works out successful, no journalist working in privately owned local media house will suffer even if they are five alone in that company. ###
