The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on the Ondo State government not to delay the negotiation and payment of the N73,000 minimum wage promised to workers by the state government.
This was stated in a communiqué signed by the union after its end-of-month congress, urging the state government to fast-track the negotiation as soon as possible to alleviate the hardships being experienced by workers.
In the communiqué signed by Oluwatosin Ighoteguano, Precious Oluwole, and Babatunde Ayedoju, the union called on the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to implement palliative measures for the people of the state.
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The union specifically urged the state government to emulate the Lagos State government by establishing a special market for selling food items at subsidized rates to the public.
The union, however, commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for paying the 2024 Leave Bonus to state workers in record time and for the timely promotion of deserving workers, from which some NUJ members benefited.
The union stated, “The congress pleads with the Ondo State Minimum Wage Technical Committee, headed by the Head of Service, to consider and protect the interests of the staff of Owena Press Limited (The Hope newspaper) by implementing a better salary scale that reflects the current economic reality.
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The congress also appeals to the state government to increase the monthly allocation to the media outfit to enable the new Managing Director, Mr. Kayode Fasua, to carry out various innovations at the newspaper.
“While our union also expresses satisfaction with Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration in sustaining free shuttle buses for students in the state, it tasks the state government to conclude the recruitment process for teachers in public primary and secondary schools without further delay, as the inadequate number of teachers is crippling the sector.
“The congress analyzed the political situation in Ondo State ahead of the November 16, 2024, governorship election, especially since the flag-off of campaigns by different political parties. It urges candidates and their supporters to maintain the current peaceful political activities before, during, and after the election.
“The congress equally charges political parties and their candidates to make their campaigns more issue-based to enable the electorate to make informed choices, while cautioning voters not to mortgage their future and that of their children through vote trading during the November 16 election.
“While expressing satisfaction with the level of preparations by various key stakeholders, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, the NUJ Congress calls on them to provide a level playing field for candidates before and during the governorship election to ensure a credible and acceptable poll.
“The congress advises INEC to be strict and work with the Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in accrediting journalists for the election, to prevent fake practitioners from causing unrest in the state with their unprofessional reports. The congress encourages members of the journalism profession to continue to uphold the ethics of journalism, especially the fact-checking mechanism, in their work.”
