Poor Pay, Unpaid Salaries Threatening Journalism, Democracy, NUJ Warns

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has expressed fresh concerns over poor remuneration and unpaid salaries in the media industry.

It warned that worsening welfare conditions among journalists are undermining productivity, stifling creativity and posing a threat to Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The warning was issued yesterday by the chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, during a two-kilometre health walk organised in Abuja as part of activities marking the union’s 2026 Press Week.

Ike said journalists across the country were battling enormous economic and professional pressures, including poor pay, delayed salaries, intimidation and harsh working conditions, despite playing a vital role in sustaining democracy through accurate and ethical reporting.

According to her, a journalist who is not financially stable cannot effectively carry out the responsibility of holding government and public institutions accountable. She warned that the continued neglect of journalists’ welfare was negatively affecting the quality of reportage and weakening the media’s capacity to defend democracy.

“Underpaid families mean you are stifling productivity and creativity,” she said, stressing that media owners must begin to prioritise the well-being of their employees if they expect professionalism and excellence from them.

The NUJ chairman noted that journalists often work under extreme pressure, staying awake through the night to meet deadlines and break stories, while also dealing with harassment, intimidation, online bullying and mental exhaustion.

She explained that the health walk, held under the broader theme of defending Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 elections, was designed to promote mental health awareness and encourage journalists to adopt healthier lifestyles.

According to Ike, the union believes that a healthy journalist is essential for a healthy democracy. She disclosed that a free medical outreach organised by the council on Saturday for more than 300 journalists revealed alarming cases of high blood pressure among practitioners, with many unaware they were already living with the condition.

The discovery, she said, highlighted the severe impact of stress and poor welfare on media professionals. “Most times, you hear that somebody just slumped. We are always running helter-skelter to make sure stories are filed, and deadlines are met,” she said.

Ike called on media proprietors and employers to ensure prompt salary payments, better welfare packages and improved working conditions for journalists, stressing that press identity cards should not be treated as substitutes for decent wages and staff welfare.

The NUJ chairman also expressed concern over the growing spread of fake news, disinformation and unethical practices in the media space ahead of the 2027 elections.

She urged journalists to remain committed to factual, balanced and responsible reporting, especially amid increasing tensions surrounding the Cybercrime Act, which she said had often been used against media practitioners.

Former president of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Evelyn Onyilo, commended the NUJ FCT Council for organising the health walk and encouraged journalists to prioritise their health despite the pressures associated with the profession.

She praised the leadership of the council for sustaining initiatives aimed at improving journalists’ wellbeing.

Chairman of the 2026 Press Week Committee, Obas Esiedesa, said the week-long programme was carefully designed to address both the professional and health needs of journalists.

Esiedesa highlighted activities lined up for the Press Week, including the medical outreach and mental health walk, while urging journalists to take their physical and mental well-being seriously.

He stressed that a healthy and motivated media workforce remained critical to credible journalism and the survival of democracy in Nigeria.