The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has said that the media is the sector most hit by the outbreak of coronavirus in the country.
The President of the union, Mr Chris Isiguzo, said while addressing members of the Oyo State council of the union in Ibadan during his visit on Saturday that economic impact of the pandemic was heavy on the media.
Isiguzo added that the effect of Coronavirus made some media houses to lay off some of their staff.
“When the Coronavirus came, the media was the most hit in the country.
“Most of the newspapers had to lay off their workers because they did not get adverts and other patronage.
“I can tell you that a particular newspaper does not have staff members again. I will not tell you the name, but it has turned all its staff into freelancers.
“But, as a remedy, we have set up a committee in conjunction with NPAN to rescue media houses from sacking workers. The committee is headed by the publisher of Businessday newspaper.
“We believed that if such thing happened, it is not the professionals that should be affected”.
Isiguzo, while speaking on the forthcoming 7th triennial delegates conference of the union, noted that the union would make the conference and elections free and fair.
“Efforts have been made to ensure a hitch-free conference in Abia State next month,” he said.
The Chairman of the state council, Comrade Ademola Babalola, welcomed the delegation to the state.
He was accompanied to Ibadan by some members of the union among whom were NUJ Zone D Chief, Wilson Bako; Amos Dunia, Ladi Emmanuel, and others.
The Coronavirus pandemic was first recorded in Nigeria in 2020. ##
