Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Ad-Hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs and former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mallam Sani Zorro, has vowed to lead a crusade in the House of Reps against cases of non-payment of journalists’ salaries and other deprivations by their employers across the country.
Zorro, who spoke to newsmen in Aso Rock after paying a solidarity visit to President Muhammadu Buhari’s media team, led by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that to ensure that journalists also benefit from the change agenda of the present administration, the House of Representatives would consider granting autonomy to Federal Government-owned media organizations.
“The media should also benefit from reform and change agenda of the present government. The House of Representatives will consider granting of autonomy to Federal Government media.
“This is important to secure them from abuse that comes their ways especially during electioneering. The House will also not tolerate the non-payment of salaries of journalists and other deprivations.”
Zorro said that Buhari’s media advisers have been doing their jobs professionally, which he adjudged to be a clear improvement over what obtained in the immediate past administration.
The lawmaker from Jigawa State advised Nigerians to continue to support Buhari in his task of repositioning the country, saying that the House of Representatives would also back the President’s agenda.
He called on members of Boko Haram and others who have taken up arms against the country to consider the commitment of the present administration to correct the wrongs of the past and embrace dialogue.
“All Nigerians should also support him. Disgruntled elements that have taken up arms, especially the Boko Haram sect, should see the transparent commitment of this administration to right all the wrongs of the past and seek dialogue.
“People of the Niger Delta too where some people were shot last week should also give peace a chance.
“It is time to give peace a chance. No effort is too much for the Niger Delta to be brought back to the mainstream of national life.
“The President recently ordered the clean up of the Ogoni area and we are very happy. Nigerians should continue to give the APC government the support needed”, Zoro said. [myad]
