Journalism is a noble profession, not for beggars – Ajakaiye

The attention of the FCT Administration has been drawn to a misrepresentation of the remarks made by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye in respect of the journalism profession in which he was alleged to have described the profession as beggarly.

According to a press statement by the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary of FCT Administration, Muhammad Hazat Sule, the Permanent Secretary while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Press Week, FCTA/FCDA Chapel of the NUJ had described journalism as a noble profession, which fought for the independence of Nigeria and for the entrenchment of democracy; recalling that the country’s frontline nationalists were mostly journalists.

Ajakaiye condemned some media proprietors who toil with the remunerations of journalists in their employ and regretted that the non-payment of salaries was turning the honourable profession into a career being seen as beggarly.

The Permanent Secretary, therefore, enjoined the media proprietors to de-emphasize giving of awards and start taking the welfare of journalists more seriously.

He also urged Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to engage proprietors of media houses in constructive discussions that would bring an end to the delay or non-payment of journalists’ remuneration.

Ajakaiye wondered why he could have spited the profession to which he proudly belongs; reiterating his deepest regards for the profession. According to him, as an information officer for 32 years he never had any problem with journalists and worked harmoniously with all he encountered in the course of his career.