Nigeria Journalists: Onuesoke Demands For Life Insurance For Practitioners

"The dangers surrounding journalists while doing their work is enormous and as such, they need to be protected with a life insurance policy".... Onuesoke.

A call has been made for the provision of Life Insurance for journalists mostly those in volatile zones in war fronts and   coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Making this call is a prominent chieftain of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Sunny Onuesoke on Saturday, 29th August, 2020.

The very vibrant and outspoken PDP Chieftain equally called for the improvement of working conditions for journalist while speaking in Crown M Radio station, Warri, Delta State, yesterday. He explained that journalists like in conflict situations are  daily exposed to grave danger which may result in maiming or death in course of engaging in their professional calling.

Highlighting some of the risk behind the profession, Onuesoke, a former Governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP, stated that, “there is the possibility of assassination or murder of media professionals in the course of doing their jobs.  They are assaulted and battened.  There is possibility of kidnapping or disappearance of journalists investigating or reporting on sensitive issues. There is equally the possibility of arson or bombing of media facilities for  reporting on sensitive issues. The danger surrounding journalists while doing their work is enormous and as such they need to be protected with a life insurance policy.”

He advised  that  there should be urgent need to enhance  the working condition of journalists in the country  considering that there can be no freedom of expression or freedom of the press where journalists work under precarious conditions and are exposed to danger, poverty or fear.

Quoting Committee To Protect Journalists, Onuesoke disclosed that no fewer than  53 journalists were killed on the job in  2018,  adding that 34 of whom were targeted for murder in reprisal for their work.

“The numbers, which represent those killed between January 1 and December 14, make 2018 the deadliest year for journalists in the past three years, according to CPJ data,” he stated.

He said Nigeria journalists should be respected and given free hands to ask  questions most during media briefing without intimidation or harassment of any kind.

The PDP Chieftain advised  all stakeholders to insure,  enhance salaries, allowances, pensions and general condition of service for media professionals.