NUJ Seeks Regulatory Council to Govern Journalism
The Nigeria Union of Journalists wants the federal government to establish a regulatory council to police the media industry. Churchill Oyowe, chairman of the Delta State branch, argues that the current reliance on voluntary ethics provides insufficient protection for practitioners. Unlike law or medicine, journalism in Nigeria lacks a statutory body to enforce standards and safeguard workers’ interests. This structural vacuum leaves many reporters vulnerable to poor pay and precarious working conditions. A formal council would bridge the gap between abstract professional codes and enforceable legal protections.
The call for regulation highlights a deepening crisis in the welfare of Nigerian media workers. Many journalists remain in active service long after they should have retired. They do so not out of passion, but out of financial necessity. Inadequate pensions and low wages during their peak years make the prospect of rest a luxury few can afford. Mr Oyowe notes that without a legal framework to mandate better welfare, the industry will continue to struggle with burnout. Professional dignity remains tied to the presence of a steady, regulated income.
Education within the sector requires a significant shift beyond the initial university degree. Standard academic training often fails to equip reporters for the evolving demands of modern newsrooms. Continuous professional development must become a requirement rather than an optional extra. The union believes that constant retraining will help restore the prestige of the fourth estate. Better skills naturally lead to better reporting and higher institutional value. It is time to treat journalism as a rigorous craft that demands lifelong learning.
The union made these demands during a ceremony for Benson Iziama, a retiring deputy director at the News Agency of Nigeria. Mr Iziama represents a rare success story in an industry where many exit with little to show for their service. Retirement should serve as a period of rest and social reintegration. Instead, it often marks the beginning of financial hardship for those who spent their lives holding power to account. The Asaba Correspondents’ Chapel organised the event to highlight the importance of professional solidarity. True comradeship requires more than just shared assignments and press conferences.
Retirement is a natural stage in any professional life, yet it feels like a looming threat to the Nigerian reporter. If the state continues to ignore the need for a regulatory body, the quality of public discourse will suffer. Desperate journalists are more susceptible to influence and less likely to challenge corruption. A regulated industry creates a buffer against the pressures of both the state and the market. Freedom of the press starts with the financial freedom of the individual journalist.
The proposed council would serve as the ultimate arbiter for professional conduct and dispute resolution. It would ensure that only qualified individuals carry the title of journalist. This would curb the rise of untrained actors who currently operate without accountability. Nigeria needs a media landscape where excellence is rewarded and malpractice is punished by law. Establishing this council is a necessary step toward a more robust democracy. The government must now decide if it truly values a professional and independent press.