The federal government has been urged to implement a special salary structure for employees of government-owned media organizations in the country in view of current economic realities and in line with international standards in the industry.
The patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Katsina State Council, Alhaji Usman Bello-Kankara made the call at a media parley in Katsina which he organized to mark the 75th anniversary of Radio Nigeria.
He said media professionals render an essential service, risking their lives and well-being to educate, inform and enlighten the public while also promoting unity, peace and national security.
“Media professionals run odd shifts, work on weekends and even during holidays and festive seasons away from their families and loved ones. This applies to journalists, broadcasters and engineers.
“They work round the clock, seven days a week and that demands a lot of sacrifice and hardwork. This is why they deserve a special welfare package to adequately compensate their sacrifice and hardwork and to encourage them to be more productive”,
While commending Radio Nigeria for its seven and a half decades of radio broadcasting, the monarch advised the federal government to install solar power across all zonal and FM stations of the corporation to make their services more stable.
He also appealed to the federal government and FRCN’s management to fully digitize the corporation’s operations to maintain its status as the leading radio broadcaster in Africa.
Journalists at the media parley thanked the NUJ patron for his concern for the welfare of journalists and congratulated Radio Nigeria for maintaining a high standard in radio broadcasting in the 75 years since its founding.