FES Nigeria: No free press without minimum material and social security for journalists

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and the International Press Centre (IPC) organised a Media Roundtable on “The Working and Welfare Situation of Journalists in Nigeria” in Lagos last week.

Journalists Associations, national media experts,  editors, Press Council representatives and the Minister of State for Information and Communications, Mr. Labaran Maku , came together to discuss the state of media freedom and the situation of journalist in the Western African country.

“We feel that without an open discourse about the grievances that journalists face in their daily lives, and without addressing the issues of social protection, collective bargaining and welfare in Nigeria‘s media world, all deliberations on media freedom are deficient“ stressed Thomas Mättig, resident representative of  FES in Nigeria. “Independent reporting is not possible without a minimum of material and social protection, since journalists will be vulnerable to intimidation, bribery and control. “

The participants agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding, which affirms the commitment to improve the working conditions and welfare situation of journalists in Nigeria and maps out a way forward.

Also read the Vanguard's article "Media workers brainstorm over improved conditions of service".