ABUJA – The Minister of Information, Mrs Patricia Akwashiki, says she is not aware of any proposal for a special salary structure for media workers in the country.
Akwashiki said this while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The minister, however, pledged to investigate the issue to know if it really existed in the ministry.
“Well, I am not aware because there was nothing like that on my table.
“I was told when I went to NAN (the News Agency of Nigeria) that they had a proposal like that.
“I have not seen anything like that since I came into the ministry and I promised to talk to my Permanent Secretary; but I haven’t been to the office today.
“So, I will still take it up and ask how far they have gone with it.’’
NAN learnt the proposed media salary structure was said to have been prepared by the late former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili, but her successor, Mr Labaran Maku, allegedly neglected the proposal between 2007 and 2015 he took charge of the ministry.
The proposal was to accommodate the nearly 24-hour duty role by media men whose salaries were based on the civil service structure.
Meanwhile, Akwashiki said that FEC marked President Jonathan’s five years in office by praying for him and the progress of the country.
“We stated by praying for the President, today is the fifth anniversary of his being sworn-in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Exactly 6th of May, 2010, he was sworn in as President of the Federal Republic.
“So, he came in with a joke and said today is somebody’s birthday and we were all looking and wondering whose birthday it is.
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“Apparently, that is what he meant that today he is five years as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we prayed for him and prayed for Nigeria and prayed for everybody in council.’’
NAN recalls that Jonathan moved from acting President to President of the country in 2010, after the National Assembly invoked a “Doctrine of Necessity’’ for him to replace late President Umaru Yar’Adua.(NAN)
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