Media Relations Consultant, Chief Fidel Onyeneke has called for enhanced medical and other welfare facilities for media practitioners in the country, in consideration of the high harzads associated with their duties.
Dr. Onyeneke stated this in Owerri on Tuesday while reacting to the death of the Managing Editor of Christian Voice Newspaper, Sir. Martin Ebe.
He regretted that most media workers were not appropriately remunerated by their employers, thereby making them vulnerable to various forms of attacks and social deprivations.
Onyeneke called for a unique salary scheme and allowances for media workers in recognition of their professional role in public education, entertainment and enlightenment.
Chief Onyeneke, a former Imo State chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), also appealed to media organizations to ensure a comprehensive insurance policy for their workers as a deliberate effort to enhance job security for them.
He also urged the federal and state governments to be more proactive in the payment of pensions and gratuities of retired media practitioners so that their sacrifices to the society would not be in vain.
Dr. Onyeneke described late Sir Martin Ebe as a renowned veteran Journalist, who made positive impact towards the educational and socio-economic growth of the country, adding that his death was a collosal loss to the media industry especially in Imo state.
He recalled the enviable achievements of Mr. Ebe when he served as the Managing Director of the Imo Newspapers Ltd, publishers of Nigerian Statesman, owned by the Imo state government and therefore urged Journalists in the state to bear his demise with great fortitude.
