Save media industry from recession, NGE pleads with FG
…As editors hail N’Army, police, others over insurgent, militant activities
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By Femi SHODUNKE
NIGERIA: APPARENTLY sensing more troubles ahead, editors in the media have cried to the Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari to save the industry from its present crisis of recession.
Specifically, the editors pleaded with the government at the centre to provide a conducive atmosphere for the Press to flourish.
They explained clearly that “the media industry has been and is still experiencing a crisis of recession, which presupposes that government would need to do more to ensure a conducive environment for the media to flourish.”
The nation’s editors, under the umbrella of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), made the plea in the 10-point communique issued at the end of their five days All Nigeria Editors’ Conference (ANEC) and Extraordinary Convention 2017 held at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which ended last Sunday.
They commended the Nigerian Army over the steps taken to halt insurgent activities in the country, and similarly said that other security agencies deserved a pat on the back for their involvement and curtailing militants and other groups’ activities that threatened the peace and security of the nation.
“The Guild commends the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their efforts in curtailing activities of insurgents, militants and other groups threatening peace and security of the country,” they said in the communique signed by their President, Funke Egbemode, and General Secretary, Victoria Ibanga.
The theme of the 13th conference and convention, which was declared open by the Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, and attended by Malam Ismaila Isa Funtua (Chairman of the opening ceremony) and ex-Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba (the Chairman of the Conference), was “Balancing Professionalism, Advocacy and Business.”
In order to address the crisis of high cost of imported newsprints, the editors charged the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and other media stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring the setting up of newsprint production companies and resuscitation of the moribund one in Oku Iboku, Akwa Ibom State.
They pleaded with the Federal and state governments to pay outstanding gratuities and pensions of retired editors and other classes of retirees to make life after retirement less stressful for them.
Other resolutions contained in their communique made available to GatewayMail are:
*That there is a need for Editors, while remaining professionally excellent, to also explore other revenue yielding ventures or business prospects to ensure that life after their editorial assignments is not nightmarish.
*That Editors in addition to their editorial functions, should concern themselves with the business side of the media industry to ensure that their establishments thrive, and that their venture into business upon retirement will be knowledge-based and experience-enriched from their service years.
*That Mass Communication Departments and Journalism training institutions include business courses in their curricular so as to prepare future editors for the business of the media industry.
*The Guild regrets the encroachment on its land in Guzape, Abuja and appreciates the promise by the FCT Minister to redress the situation.
*The Guild commends its members for their cooperation and support, which led to the successful amendment of its Constitution.
*The Guild expresses gratitude to the Rivers State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike, for his magnanimity in hosting ANEC back to back successfully and applauds the significant level of infrastructure development recorded in the state under his watch.
They also said in the communique that the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Interview, Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene, delivered the keynote address while the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) also delivered goodwill messages at the event where the NGE constitution was amended.
The editors further explained that “the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Surveyor-General of the Federation, Ebisintei Awudu; Governors of Bayelsa, Bauchi and Oyo States, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister; the JAMB Registrar; Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), all made presentations at the Executive Session of the Conference.”
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