NUJ Seeks Health Insurance For Journalists

President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, has pleaded with the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to provide full health insurance coverage for journalists in the region to support access to healthcare services and tackle job-related hazards.

LEADERSHIP reports that about 14 journalists were involved in an auto-crash while covering the activities of the commission in Bauchi last Friday.

The victims sustained varying injuries, including fractures and bodily injuries. The victims are receiving treatment at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH).

The NUJ president said this yesterday while receiving media tools from the leadership of the NEDC in Gombe.

The NUJ president said a full health insurance coverage for journalists in the region would ensure that the medical needs of journalists and their families were covered.

He also appealed to the commission to pay health insurance fee of N40,000 per journalist for journalists in the North-East to enhance their welfare while on duty.

He expressed gratitude to the NEDC for the timely intervention, describing the gesture as compassionate and commendable.

Yahaya commended the management of the commission for its prompt response and proactive support, describing the replacement of the equipment as a demonstration of NEDC’s commitment to the media and continuity of work.

He further appreciated the Bauchi State Government for its support towards the treatment of the injured journalists.

He commended the commitment shown by the NEDC and Bauchi State Government officials, noting that despite being en route to another commissioning site, they immediately returned upon receiving news of the accident.

The managing director and chief executive officer of the commission, Alh. Mohammed Alkali recalled that five professional cameras belonging to the affected media organisations were destroyed in the accident.

“To ensure that the affected media organisations can immediately return to work, arrangements have been made to replace all five cameras so that their operations can continue without disruption,” he said.

Alkali further disclosed that, on a personal note, the commission had also decided to replace the journalists’ lost mobile phones. “Thirteen journalists who lost their phones will each be provided with a Samsung Galaxy A56 5G to enable them to continue their professional duties effectively,” he added.

In a sympathy message signed by Alhaji Mohammed G. Alkali, the Governing Board, Management, and Staff of the NEDC expressed deep sympathy to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), particularly the Bauchi State Council, over the unfortunate accident that occurred during the commissioning and handover of NEDC projects in Bauchi State.