By Stanley Onyekwere
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council has raised an alarm over the “suffocating” impact of economic hardship and national insecurity, describing them as the primary obstacles to professional survival in the nation’s capital.
FCT Council Chairman, Grace Ike declared that the dignity of labour is being systematically eroded.
She warned that the theme of this year’s May Day celebration, “Insecurity and Poverty: Bane of Decent Work,” is not just a slogan but a grim daily reality for journalists and workers across the Federal Capital Territory.
In a strongly-worded statement, Ike highlighted how the intersection of a failing economy and a volatile security landscape has created a “complex environment” that threatens to silence the media.
Ike noted that rising economic pressures have moved beyond mere discomfort, now actively crushing worker morale and making “decent work” an unattainable luxury for many.
Beyond the physical danger to life, Ike argued that widespread insecurity has restricted the flow of information, making it impossible for journalists to move freely or hold power to account effectively.
“The twin challenges of insecurity and economic hardship… continue to undermine productivity, threaten livelihoods, and erode the dignity of labour,” Ike stated.
Shifting the focus from celebration to a call for survival, the NUJ Chairperson insisted that the current trajectory is unsustainable without immediate policy shifts from both the public and private sectors.
Ike challenged the government to move beyond rhetoric and implement “deliberate and sustained action” to alleviate poverty and stabilize national security.
She argued that a safe environment and economic opportunity are not perks, but fundamental rights for any workforce.
In an industry-specific plea, she called on media owners to stop treating worker welfare as an afterthought.
While acknowledging the “safety risks” and “biting economic climate,” Ike praised the resilience of NUJ members who continue to work despite their well-being being under fire.
She concluded by urging workers to use their platforms to keep a spotlight on these systemic failures, stressing that only through collective advocacy can the “bane” of poverty and insecurity be lifted from the Nigerian workforce.
