Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Senator Sharafadeen Alli has appealed to media owners across the country to prioritise the welfare of journalists in their employment.
Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, urged media organisations to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of their employees at all times.
The lawmaker made this appeal while reacting to the death of Tribune Newspaper Correspondent at the Senate, Mr. Tijani Adeyemi.
It was gathered that Adeyemi reportedly slumped and died while in active service on Wednesday in Abuja.
The lawmaker, who noted that journalists are often exposed to risks, as well as hazards in the discharge of their official duties, used the opportunity to call on the owners of various media organisations to take the welfare of their employees as an essential duty.
The Senator in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Akeem Abas, said that the Senate Press Corps and the entire Nigerian media industry had lost a hardworking member.
He added that the deceased would be greatly missed by all.
The lawmaker condoled with Adeyemi’s family, Senate Press Corps and the publisher of Nigerian Tribune titles, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN).
“Media organisations should prioritise the safety and wellbeing of their employees, especially journalists who are often exposed to risks, as well as hazards in the discharge of their duties.
“I called on the government to address challenges faced by the media industry, including the need to strengthen the regulatory framework and provide adequate support for media practitioners.
“The Nigerian media has a critical role to play in nation-building, and it is essential to create an enabling environment for journalists to operate without fear or intimidation,” he said
