ABUJA/Nigeria: The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has described as outstanding and courageous, the excellence and professionalism so far demonstrated by Nigerian medical doctors, nurses, and health workers in managing the Coronavirus pandemic since the case was reported in the country.
The union, in a statement by its National President, Chief Chris Isigozo, expressed pride the feat home grown medical and health workers have achieved so far in the fight against the pandemic in face of poor facilities, hostile working environments and frustrating conditions of service.
Chief Isiguzo noted that with very low mortality rate, increasing number of discharged persons and effective management of positive patients, the medical and health professionals had shown they could compete favourably with the best in the world if given the opportunity and accorded the required recognition.
The union called on federal and state governments and private sector to consider adequate remuneration for health workers in this line of duty and that the time to invest in the health sector was now.
It observed that the obvious impact of the rampaging pandemic had made it more imperative for the nation’s hospitals to become more functional considering that everybody no matter how highly or lowly placed had now been circumstantially compelled to patronize them.
The NUJ also welcomes with high expectations, the measures so far taken by the federal government to manage the crisis, commending the professionalism shown by the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu in particular and the SGF-led Presidential Task Force on COVID 19.
It identified the daily media briefing by the Task Force, interface with various state governments as important steps that had helped information dissemination, public education and enlightenment, saying it had also helped to draw national attention to the dangers that lay ahead, the responsibilities of all Nigerians and the need for unity of purpose to defeat the pandemic.
The NUJ therefore stands with the government and the Task Force and will continue to offer every support in this direction.
The Union commended its members, particularly health reporters and correspondents and the Nigerian media generally for the on-going aggressive campaign through various news and programs on the dangers of the virus.
It nevertheless called on authorities and owners of media establishments to do everything possible to equip their reporters and provide palliatives for journalists across the country to reduce the risk faced at this critical time.
For debtor media houses, the union reiterates that it will not continue to stand idly while journalists who work round the clock were owed several months arrears of salaries.
The union lamented that since its strategic engagements appeared not to be yielding results as expected, it might in the coming weeks be forced to resort to either picketing of such media houses or take legal actions.
The NUJ also viewed as disappointing and careless some decisions and actions of some state governors which if not checked were capable of undermining the restrictions and social distancing directives put in place for overall public safety.
It said that relaxing the lockdown order in some states for the commemoration of the Easter celebration was a dangerous gamble and advised the affected states to avoid such errors in future.
“Governors of states where cases have been recorded but are still yet to order a lockdown are advised to do so as it remains better to err on the side of caution.
“The Union uses this opportunity to advise politicians from all political parties to stop forthwith from playing politics with a deadly global health challenge such as the coronavirus pandemic that constitutes a matter of life and death.
“Politicians are urged to watch closely and learn from what is happening all over the world, where politics has taken a back seat in all countries including the USA that has a general election this year.
“The NUJ also applauds some affluent Nigerians, religious organisations, NGOs, development partners, the public and private sectors that have donated funds to support the covid-19 fight and calls on others within and outside the country to emulate the gesture.
“As a result of experiences in the past in Nigeria, the NUJ wishes to put all on notice, that the Union as watch dog of the society is set to raise at the background, high profile investigative reporters drawn from the print, electronic and social media to track, monitor very closely every income and expenditure of all funds raised for the purposes of managing the covid-19. Our scope of coverage will cover all tiers and levels of government. It must be made clear that the NUJ will hold accountable all those saddled with the responsibility of handling public funds during this period.
“While calling for more sustained palliatives for the poor and hungry in society, efficient distribution to all parts of the country, the Union appeals to all citizens to give their full cooperation to all lawful orders to curb the spread of this virus,” the statement said.
