Ondo NUJ demands better welfare for media workers, commends Gov Aiyedatiwa’s education reforms

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, has called on both the state and federal governments to prioritize the welfare of journalists and strengthen media organizations in the state.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its monthly congress held on August 28, 2025, at the NUJ Press Centre, Akure, under the chairmanship of Prince Leke Adegbite.

The union applauded Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration for improving facilities at the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC) Media Group but urged immediate recruitment of new staff into state-owned media outfits including OSRC, The Hope newspaper, and the State Ministry of Information.

It also frowned at the growing trend of casualization of workers and non-payment of salaries by some private media organizations, describing such acts as a violation of labour laws.

The congress further urged the federal government to upgrade equipment and employ more manpower at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Radio Nigeria Positive FM, Akure, while calling for timely promotion of qualified media workers.

On welfare, the NUJ tasked the Ondo State Accountant General to pay four months’ arrears of the new minimum wage to staff of Owena Press Limited, publishers of The Hope, as approved by Governor Aiyedatiwa. It also appealed to the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Idowu Ajanaku, to work with relevant stakeholders to restructure and mainstream Owena Press into a corporation.

The union appreciated the state government’s intervention in upgrading facilities at the NUJ Press Centre and commended new education policies, including the ban on graduation ceremonies for nursery, primary, and JSS3 pupils, as well as the directive for textbook re-use to reduce parents’ financial burden. It, however, tasked the Ministry of Education to publish the approved textbook lists for schools in the new academic session.

The congress expressed concern over rising insecurity and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review his government’s economic policies, which it said were worsening hardship and fueling crime.

While commending the ongoing dualization of the Akure-Ado Ekiti and Ore-Ondo-Akure roads, the NUJ urged federal lawmakers from Ondo State to push for reconstruction of other dilapidated federal roads, including Ikare-Irun-Ado Ekiti, Owo-Ipele-Isua Akoko-Kabba, and Ikare-Arigidi-Ajowa roads.

The union encouraged Governor Aiyedatiwa to remain focused on policies that promote the overall progress and prosperity of Ondo State.