From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Chairman, Kogi state council of Nigeria union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Adeiza Momohjimo on Monday in Lokoja called for a government policy of insurance cover for journalists and members of their immediate families to take care of unforeseen.
Comrade Momohjimo made the call while addressing press conference in respect of the Kogi state Vanguard Correspondent’s wife, Mrs. Boluwaji Obahopo, who was involved in an accident and a whopping sum of 2.5 million is required to perform urgent surgery on her to stop further damage to her system.
While calling on other public spirited individuals to assist this distressed family by way of financial assistance, NUJ Chairman said “We want to passionately appeal to the Kogi State government and by extension, Governor Yahaya Bello to please come to aid of this journalist who for over a decade now been reporting the activities of Kogi state.”
The Chairman acknowledged the initial financial assistance given by some political office holders at the preliminary treatment at the Okene General hospital, FMC, Lokoja and University Teaching hospital Gwgwalada before the real bill for the surgery came out.
He stressed that the recent unfortunate happenings to journalists in the country have brought to the fore the need for insurance cover for journalists and members of their immediate families.
“The National Assembly should as a matter of urgency, come up with laws that will ensure that journalists get insurance cover that will be able to take care of their families in the event that they suffer permanent disability in the course of their duty.”
He also called on Proprietors of media Houses to make welfare of their staff top priority through prompt payment of salaries, provision of health insurance and other incentives needed for them to function well, saying “We must not go cap in hand begging for alms for any reason.”
“The Kogi State council also wish to join the national Secretariat and other councils to condemn in strongest terms the controversial circumstances surrounding the death of Henry Tordue Salem Vanguard House of Representatives correspondent who went missing for days and was later found dead.”
Adeiza was optimistic that the security agencies will do more investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding his unfortunate death.
