NUJ Advocates Insurance Cover For Journalists

The Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalist, Chris Isiguzo has said the institutions that govern journalism need to be strengthened such that journalists caught up in the hazards of the occupation can be covered by insurance.

He made the statement on Thursday in Abuja while fielding questions from journalists during a forum for the adoption of framework on Police-Media relations and safety of Journalists.

The NUJ boss said the union has set up a committee to reactivate the programme which was introduced in 2013.

He said, “We understand the occupational hazards that we face every other day. It is not just about journalists that cover tense situations, generally we have this problem. We have employers and media owners that don’t care.

“That is why I said we need to strengthen our institutions so that by the time we engage one journalist, we won’t just give him appointment letter but documents that are expected of the employer to deliver to the employee.

“But at our own level, we are not just giving up hope, we have already set up a committee to reactivate the programme. We introduced it firstly in 2013 but over 87% of Nigerian journalist did not make use of it. That was the challenge and the programme did not survive.

“Now we are trying to re-activate it. In the process of doing this we are also going to be able to sensitise our people. You don’t just wait to be spoon fed. When these things happen, the families you leave behind will just suffer. We have a good number of people that died in accident because of their jobs. They follow governors in convoys and get into accidents and die.

“The governors just visit the families and disappear. Nothing is left for the family.

“That is why we say this insurance programme is very important. And it is not something that you will wait for Mr A or B to do it for you. You must have to demonstrate commitment.

“So very soon we will re-activate it and you and I will also be expected to participate properly.”