Date: 2020-07-03

The Federal Government has been urged to approve a bailout funds for the media industry in the country in order to avoid further loss of jobs in the sector.

The chairman, National League of Veteran Journalists( NALVEJ) in Kwara state, Alhaji Tunde Akanbi, made the appeal in his opening remarks during the monthly meeting of the league held in Ilorin, the state capital.

Akanbi noted that the COVID-19 issue has further compounded the financial challenges facing the media industry in the country.

He lamented the plight of journalists working with privately owned media establishments " who have to stay for many months without salaries or allowances. "

" We also have information that a few privately owned media establishments that were managing to pay salaries of their staff before COVID- 19, have either laid off some journalists or slashed their salaries by as much as 40 percent ,"he added.

He reminded government at all levels of the crucial roles of journalists in nation building, adding that " the welfare of these noblemen in the pen pushing profession should not be toyed with. "

The NALVEJ chairman expressed delight that the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria(NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors(NGE), the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria ( BON) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ ) had made similar appeal to the Nigerian government.

The league chairman cautioned media practitioners to abide strictly by the social and physical distancing policy of the government and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the pandemic particularly those covering various sensitive beats warning that it's only those that are alive that can report activities.

Akanbi praised the Kwara state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for setting aside one hundred million Naira monthly to off set payment of pensioners gratuity and for ensuring regular payment of pensions and salaries of retirees and civil servants in the state but however, reminded him of the payment of the thirty thousand Naira minimum wage immediately the economy of the state improves.

The State NELVEJ chairman applauded the governor fir appointing a thorough bread journalist, Kayode Aremu as the new General Manager of Kwara State Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Kwara).

He noted with satisfaction that the new General Manager has ensured that the radio station goes on air for 24 hours few days after his assumption of office.