From Ben Dunno, Warri
The Labour Party (LP) lawmaker representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie federal constituency in Delta State, Benedict Etanabene, has lamented the poor remunerations and non-existing pension schemes for media practitioners in the country and called for an urgent holistic review considering its vital role in the society.
He made the call in a delivered at the presentation of a N25 million Welfare Endowment Funds by an ace Journalist , Sola Adebayo and his friends for the members of the Warri Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Warri, yesterday.
The lawmaker who was flanked at the Cheque presentation by his colleagues, including Chief Thomas Ereyitomi and Donald Ojogo, noted that it’s rather unfortunate that the welfare of Journalists as Fourth Estate of Realm was not well captured and guaranteed in the constitution.
While lamenting that despite the critical role media practitioners played in informing and interpreting government policies and programs, as well as its agenda settings role in the society, they are poorly remunerated without a commensurate pension schemes after retirement by both government and private sectors of the economy.
He called for an urgent comprehensive review of the welfare package for media practitioners in various sectors so as to encourage them to pit in their very best in discharging their duties professionally in the best interest of the nation, particularly the masses they are supposed to protect.
White thanking Adebayo for taking the bull by the horn in galvanizing his personal friends to raise funds to boost the welfare for Journalists in Warri where he had worked as a Correspondents for a number of media houses for many years, Etenabene, urged other Nigerian to emulate such gesture as way of making practicing journalists financially stable in the society.
He reaffirmed commitment to the Journalists Endowment Funds and noted that he would keep supporting the process that had commenced as part of his little contributions to the welfare of Journalists in the state, particularly within his constituency.
Presenting the dummy cheque of N25million on behalf of Asiwaju Adebayo, Thomas Ereyitomi, Member representing Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representative called on the public and good spirited individuals to imbibe the culture of giving and assisting one another and groups.
The lawmaker who was highly elated noted that ability to impact on peoples life was significant because a person would be remembered for his/her positive impact and legacies.
According to Chief Ereyitomi, “Sola has been a very good friend and we have been relating well. What we are doing here today is significant in the sense that it has to do with humanity.
“Service to humanity is very key because all of us will grow old and one day leave this planet. What will people say about you? Our ability to impact on others is very key. We need to be conscious of it,” he said.
Chief Ereyitomi called on members of the Chapel to ensure the fund was used judiciously to encourage the donors .
According to him, “when we see that this fund is put into judicious use, we will be encouraged.
“Now that Sola has used this platform to impact, we expect that it will trickle down, to encourage us to do more. Not only for this profession but for others who also want to impact on humanity”.
Also speaking , Donald Ojogo, Member representing Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency of Ondo State and a journalist by profession described journalism as a door opener.
Ojogo expressed gratitude to Adebayo for the noble gesture and urged members to at all time uphold the ethics of the journalism profession.
According to him, “it was thing of joy when Asiwaju called, for me it was not a request. Journalism opens doors, you can have access to Ministers and establish contacts with them,” he said.
The former South South Bureau Chief of the Nigerian Tribune recalled that Warri was operating like a state within a state.
According to him, the oil-rich city was more of a melting pot between the South West, South East and South South regions of the country.
In his brief remarks at the occasion,
Mr. Churchill Oyowe, Chairman, NUJ, Delta State Council urged members to ensure the money does not cause division among members of the chapel but rather, it should be revolving for the benefits of all.
“People should not feign challenges. It should be shared for genuine reasons.
“I beg of us, let this money not cause problem. Let it be revolving for the benefit of all of you.
“I thank all the good minded people and Asiwaju for galvanising them for this noble gesture,” he said.
In his opening remark, Mr. Victor Okpomor, Chairman, NUJ Warri Correspondents Chapel said that the initiative kick-started on Oct. 1, 2024.
He, on behalf of the Chapel expressed gratitude to Asiwaju Adebayo.
Okpomor described him as always a leading light who had transformed journalism practice in Warri in particular, Delta State and the country in general.
Speaking at the presentation, the fund raiser, Mr. Sola Adebayo called on practicing journalists to make friends in the course of their duty and sustain such relationships.
He advised journalists to be dedicated and always uphold the tenets of the profession as they diligently go about in their career.
According to him “as journalists, keep your friends. Journalism is a tool that makes you come in contact with people, make friends, sustain it.
“Develop core friendship, don’t sacrifice the ultimate for the immediate. I appeal to all of you to be responsible”.
The renowned Journalist recalled that the target for the project which commenced on Oct.1, 2024 was N10 million.
He, however, expressed joy that the process was able to hit N25 million.
“I want to sincerely appreciate my friends especially Ereyitomi. When we started this process, the target was N10 million. I was planning to extend it,.but was advised. I thank the Chief Ereyitomi and others,” he said.