NUJ Threatens To Sue Media Organisations Over Non Payment Of Salaries
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) has threatened to sue media organisations at the Industrial Arbitration Court for defaulting in the payment of their workers.
The Chairman, Lagos council of the union, Mr. Deji Elumoye who disclosed this to journalists said the organisations had been notified of the planned action and that they would be served court papers as soon as all the processes had been concluded.
According to Elumoye, the step became inevitable as the media houses had not shown sincerity or commitment in their engagements with the union on peaceful resolution of the matter.
The Lagos NUJ boss said, “Non-payment of salaries of journalists is a serious issue and we are not taking it lightly with the affected organisations.
“We have been picketing some defaulting media houses. While some have been responding well, others have not shown sincerity in our engagements with them.
“For God`s sake, why would you continue to owe journalists who traverse everywhere to get the stories that sustain your organisation?
“We understand that some are facing precarious financial situation. We are holding talks with them. But some have no excuses for not paying their workers; we are not going to spare them.
“In fact, we have almost concluded plans to take three defaulting media houses to the Industrial Arbitration Court over the issue. As soon as the court papers are ready, they will get them,” he said.
He urged media houses to promptly pay the salaries in order to motivate the journalists to add more value to their organizations, saying the union was expecting action from the Federal Government on its implementation.
Elumoye added that the union had several engagements with the past administration on the issue noting that it received assurance that it would be implemented.
“We held several meetings with the last government on the issue and there was an agreement that an enhanced salary, the exact amount I will not disclose will be implemented.
“Even the current Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has acknowledged that an agreement was reached with the last government on salary raise.”
He lamented that the present administration has not been engaging the union on the implementation, saying it may be because of the recession rocking the country.
