The Vice Chancellor Federal University kashere in Gombe State Professor Umar Pate, has called on government to review the salaries of working journalists above the national minimum wage to boost productivity.
Professor Umar Pate made the call while presenting paper on media and Good Governance at a first media summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists Bauchi State Council held in Bauchi.
Represented by the Head of Mass Communication Department University of Jos Professor Godfrey Naanlang Danaan emphasized that poor remuneration and inadequate welfare are major challenges affecting the’ performance of Journalists hence the need for government to review their salaries as well as provision of working equipments for effective service delivery.
The University Don also highlighted the importance of journalists being objective and holding the government accountable for their actions to the society.
He expressed concern over killing of innocent lives, insecurity, corruption, and bad governance which negatively affect the Nation’s development.
Also speaking the President Nigeria Union of Journalists Comrade Alhassan Yahya urged the practitioners to prioritise the ethics of the profession and devoid with sentiment in their reportage.
Comrade Yahya represented by the former NUJ secretary Shaibu Leman appreciated Bauchi State council for organizing such summit and urged other state councils to emulate.
Speaking at the event Governor Bala Muhammad of Bauchi State affirmed committment to fully digitalizing state owned media organizations inline with international standards.
The Governor represented by the chief of staff Government house Bauchi Dr Aminu Hassan Gamawa explained that the Construction of the new Nigeria Union of Journalists Bauchi State Council secretariat is set to commence this year.
Correspondent report that the summit with Theme Journalists and Good Governance has in attendance of former Director General FRCN Dr Ladan Salihu, media executives, journalists, academicians, within and outside Bauchi State.
By Yusuf Muhd Inuwa