Members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, have called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the severe manpower shortage at federal government-owned media organisations in the state — the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN Positive 102.5 FM).
The Union also appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene in the staffing challenges facing state-owned media outlets, specifically *The Hope Newspaper* and the OSRC Media Group, to enhance their capacity for effective service delivery.
The appeal was contained in a communiqué issued after the Union’s July Congress, which was held over the weekend in Akure and presided over by the State Chairman, Comrade Leke Adegbite. The document was made public on Monday.
The congress, which drew members from various media chapels across the state, deliberated on a broad range of issues including politics, the economy, security, agriculture, the environment, and welfare.
In the communiqué jointly signed by David Fidelis (Correspondents’ Chapel), Ebunoluwa Akinroyeje (OSRC/Orange FM), Kayode Animasaun (FRCN Positive FM), and countersigned by State Secretary Olaoluwa Meshack, the union expressed deep concern over what it described as the alarming shortage of staff in both federal and state media institutions.
The Congress warned that the dwindling workforce in these establishments is already undermining effective media coverage and limiting the channels through which government activities and policies are communicated to the public.
“It called on both the Federal and the Ondo State Governments to as a matter of necessity address the shortage of manpower across public owned media organizations in the state namely; FRCN, NTA, OSRC/Orange FM and The Hope newspaper, describing them as effective channels of promoting government’s activities and for effective public service delivery,” the communiqué read.
The Union also raised an alarm over the dilapidated condition of the Ondo NUJ Press Centre’s main building, whose roof and ceiling were recently destroyed by a torrential downpour.
“The Congress expresses deep concern over the deplorable condition of the roof and ceiling of the Ondo NUJ Press Centre main building damaged by a rainstorm, and calls on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to urgently assist in renovating the affected structure for the benefit of journalists in the state,” it added.
The Congress commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for appointing a seasoned journalist, Hon. Idowu Ajanaku, as the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, while urging the new appointee to implement policies that will enhance strategic journalism practice across the state.
On labour matters, the NUJ condemned the growing trend of staff casualization, especially among private media establishments, stressing that the practice violates international labour laws.
It asked media owners to desist from exploiting journalists under the guise of temporary employment.
While applauding members for their professionalism and ethical conduct, the union cautioned against the spread of misinformation, especially in the digital age influenced by artificial intelligence.
“The congress applauded members of the pen profession in the state for their ethical reportage but enjoined them to be wary of fake news by always cross-checking the facts before going to the press, especially in these area of artificial intelligence,” it said.
The Union, however, applauded the re-elected executive members of the Ondo State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), led by its chairperson, Comrade Tola Gbadamosi, and encouraged them to continue advocating for the rights of women and the girl-child across the state.
