Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Friday advocated a a comprehensive insurance cover for journalists in the country.
He said it had become necessary for the salaries of media practitioners to be improved upon in order to boost their morale and increase their productivity.
Saraki stated this as the Chairman of the opening session of the 5th Triennial National Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, with the theme, ‘Fostering Safety of Journalists and Building Synergy with Agents of the State’.
The Senate President was represented at the event by the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani.
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He stated that recent events in the national, cross-border and global polity had undoubtedly put a lot of emphasis on the safety, sustainability, value, rights and moral standing of the average journalist.
He noted that journalists put themselves through difficult, often, uncharted channels to ensure that democracy had its highest expression.
Saraki said, “It is thus incumbent on us, the custodians of this democracy, to bring to the fore viewpoints that will enhance the productivity and efforts of these professionals.
“That is why I associate myself with the call for journalists to be provided with insurance cover by their employers, be it government or private. I also want to canvass enhanced salaries for the professionals.
“However, these demand that journalists, through their associations, should strictly enforce adherence to professionalism and code of ethics of their profession.
“There must also be penalty for those who violate the ethics or behave in a manner unbecoming of a professional”
