Funke Busari, Lagos
Mr. Adeleye Ajayi, the Chairmanship aspirant for the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos is determined to take over the Secretariat of the Lagos Council of the NUJ.
To realize his ambition he visited the Secretariat of the Crime Reporters Association on a campaign train.
He harped on journalists welfare and as the one who is fit for the highest office in NUJ come September 29, 2020.
Leye as he is fondly called by his colleagues said that he is in the race again to offer hope for his colleagues.
“We are here again to solicit for your votes, you believed so much in us and this time around we won’t let you down, ..as soon as we win this election, we will carry everybody along.”
Presenting his manifesto, Leye said, “Of paramount importance is the welfare of journalists, because a worker must have hope for today, tomorrow and the future. Our hope for today is regular salary, you must earn regular salary and living wages.
He added that the issue of unremitted pensions would be sorted out as he promised to organise a media stakeholders’ meeting of editors, publishers with reporters will even come together. NUJ will organise it to make sure that life is better for our colleagues.
He was of the view that job security is also a key area that his administration would work on even as he voiced that his team is also working towards lobbying the government for the media owners to have relief package.
Expressing how feasible that is, he explained, “To get soft loans. If farmers can have access to scheme through the Central Bank of Nigeria Anchor Borrowers’ Programme what stops us from applying for stimulus package from the Federal Government. Some other newspapers should follow suit, they should apply for a sort of bail-out fund for the media so that they can stay afloat.”
He said, “We need to subscribe to life insurance policy, we need it to for everybody even if we have to pay with the sources of revenue drive to protect ourselves.”
He said his team will explore the possibility of putting in place the health management scheme for members.
He said bringing back the media games is critical for exercising the body for at least one week as well as the co-operative society which he described is in limbo but can assist those who are gainfully employed to have access to loans.
The President of Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria, CRAN, Mr. Odita Sunday during his speech welcomed the campaign team and said that the aspirant is humane and of good character, adding that NUJ has been responsive and we don’t want to see crisis but we want to see everything working out well.
He noted that individuals know who they want to vote for in the election.
He said “We are very proud of the Union.. all I will wish you is best of luck and I am hoping any one of you that wins will carry everybody along.
He raised concern about the issue of paying 5000 naira for biometric for members in the face of current situation in the country and said this is not ideal.
He urged the campaign team to consider their members plight and let the members be the decider.
He expressed that such fee could limit electorates to vote because they might be considering that it is huge.
Those on the campaign train were Mr. Adeleye Ajayi, NUJ Vice Chairman, Abiola Beckley and 2nd Vice Chairman, Adenike Shodipo who is currently the Director General for Leye’s campaign, Innocent Anaba who is aspiring for the position of Financial Secretary, Edwin Nwanchukwu, Philip Nwosu and Moses Omorogieva.
