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COVID-19: Union applauds media coverage of pandemic, vows to picket organisations owing journalists

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has commended efforts of its members in the coverage and reportage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The body, however, frowned at media houses owing their staff, especially at this period and vowed to picket them or drag them to court.

In a statement on Monday by its President, Chris Isiguzo, NUJ said it was pleased with the efforts health reporters, correspondents and the Nigerian media generally had made in the reportage of the pandemic and its dangers through various news and programmes.

Isiguzo urged owners of media platforms in the country to ensure they equip reporters working under their establishments and to also provide palliatives for them in order to reduce the risk faced at this critical time.

For debtor media houses, the union leader reiterated that ‘”it will not continue to stand idle while journalists who work round the clock are owed several months arrears of salaries.

“Since our strategic engagements appear not to be yielding results as expected, the union in the coming weeks may be forced to resort to either picketing of such media houses or take legal actions,” he said.

Isiguzo also applauded some affluent Nigerians, religious organisations, NGOs, development partners, public and private sectors that had donated funds to support the COVID-19 fight.

READ ALSO: Patience Jonathan reportedly seals deal with Aisha Buhari to convert Abuja hotel to COVID-19 isolation centre

While it called on others within and outside the country to emulate the gesture, the NUJ president said the union would hold accountable all those saddled with the responsibility of handling public funds during this novel coronavirus period,

Isiguzo, earlier in the statement, said the union was proud of efforts so far made by Nigerian medical practitioners at tackling the pandemic in spite of poor health facilities in the country.

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