By MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, has asked the Lagos State Government to review its directive pegging secondary school entrance age at 12 years, in order to accommodate candidates who fall below the age.
The Union said that the policy will delay candidates below the stipulated age the opportunity to continue uninterrupted progress in formal schooling.
The journalists commended Lagos State Government on various developmental projects it has initiated to boost education in the state.
“The directive might deny many pupils who were not 12 years but had sat for entrance examination the opportunity to go to secondary school,” the Lagos State Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists wrote in the communique it issued at the end of its congress which took place on Saturday 18th September 2021.
In expression of opinion on media salary, the Council frowned at the poor salary being paid by media organisations – both private and public – to journalists in the country.
It declared that the fight for a better salary structure for journalists can only be achieved by teamwork.
The Council called for a collaboration among media bodies like Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to push for better remuneration for journalists.
The Lagos journalists frowned at the incessant loans being obtained by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to fund the provision of infrastructure, and highlighted the dire consequences of the loans on the economy.
The Council called on the Federal Government to slow down the rate at which it obtains foreign loans, and asked the government to explore other alternatives within the country to generate funds.
As preparations for the year 2021 National Delegates Conference in Umuahia, Abia State is on top gear, the Council charged journalists to report on the conference and set agenda for people seeking national positions in the Union.
The Council charged all contestants not to see the election as a do-or-die game but rather accept the election result as sportsmen.
