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Sunday, August 29 2004 Search : Vol 17 No.30

News Opinion Features Sports Chic Columnists Faith Personage Magazine Interview Business Week Sunday Politics Ecowas Report Family Line Foreign News NPAN flaws Bill on journalists’ welfare ABIODUN FELIX, Osogbo THE Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) seem to be set on a collision course as the NPAN through its president, Mr. Ray Ekpu yesterday criticised a Bill sponsored by the NUJ at the National Assembly. Speaking yesterday in Ada, Osun State at the first All Nigerian Editors conference, Mr. Ekpu in a paper title "Remuneration and Incentives. Implication for professionalism and Good Ethical conduct, the NPAN president said the Bill did not reflect the opinion of other stakeholders in the industry. "I am aware that the Nigerian Union of journalists (NUJ) has submitted a bill to the National Assembly. The Bill titled Journalism practice welfare Enhancement Bill, is purportedly aimed at enhancing the welfare of journalists. I am not aware that all the stakeholders in the industry have made an input into the bill. "Certainly, the NPAN has not because it has not been brought into the picture. I believe that any bill that is going to affect the industry must be discussed and approved by not only the NUJ but also by the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NPAN and other stakeholders that maybe affected by it". Ekpu who is the Chief Executive officer of Newswatch magazine, stressed that "this bill is flawed in the respect that it was not all encompassing. On the issue of delayed payment of salaries to journalists which the bill addressed, Ekpu said the question of delayed payment of salaries is universal and not restricted to journalism profession alone. "Why then would a law be made specifically for one professional group when the problem to be tackled affects many professions. A law that purports to solve a problem in one industry when many industries are suffering from the same affliction is a discriminatory and bad law". He further stressed that low renumeration and irregular payment of salaries to journalist is not an excuse for corruption in the industry. According to Ekpu, "now if the idea is that journalists are corrupt cause they are poorly paid or salaries are owed them, what do you make of the rich in our midst who steal government funds. "Certainly, there is need for our journalists to be paid when due, but let us not offer excuses for the corruption in the industry. Corruption is a crime that we all must fight", Ekpu summed.

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