The federal lawmaker representing Akoko North/West of Ondo State at the National Assembly, Honourable Ifeoluwa Ehindero has advocated for mandatory Health Insurance Bill for media practitioners in Nigeria, saying the health of journalists enhances productivity in their workplaces.
Ehindero stated this during a media parley with members of the Association of Ondo Media Practitioners ,AOMP, as part of the activities commemorating his first year in the National Assembly.
According to him, the proposed bill aimed at addressing the challenges faced by media professionals nationwide is essential, considering the occupational hazards in the field.
Fielding question from the visiting journalist in his office, Ehidero, known as a promoter of journalists welfare could not hide his joy as he received his kinsmen who are in the journalism profession. He frowned at the carefree attitude of employers in the media industry towards their plights, particularly in the areas of healthcare.
“No one expected his workers to be productive when they are not healthy. So, worker’s health matters. “As you walk in, you will notice that my secretary is missing in the office at the moment. When I noticed she was not well despite the fact that she was willing to work, I had to discharge her to go home and rest.
“I made provision for her with some cash to go take care of herself. You will be shocked that she has only typhoid. As we speak, she is on the drip. She’s been on admission since Friday morning, but now she is doing well.” He empathized.
The lawmaker reveals his legislative plans to address misnomers in the media industry as regards journalists’ health. He promised to use his good office to help facilitate a legislative bill on health care delivery for journalists nationwide.
According to the lawmaker who is the Grand patron of the Association of Ondo Media Practitioners, such a bill, when passed into law, will help ameliorate the challenges faced by media men, particularly on health-related matters.
“The point you raised is very vital, I think this is something we should look into. If this will involve drafting a Bill that media practitioners should be on compulsory Health Insurance, it is something we have to work on together.
“I urge you, the journalists, to join me in conducting more findings on the workability of the Bill to address health issues among journalists and drop your reports in my office for further legislative actions” ” he assured.
It would be recalled that the lawmaker awarded schorlarship for the daughter of a journalist, the late John Olasunkanmi Oba, whose sudden death shocked the media Industry in August last year, and equally played a pivotal role in the burial of the journalist, believed to have passed under avoidable circumstances as many before him.
The lawmaker emphasized the need for journalists to look after their health as he urged media employers to pursue the welfare of media men while still alive.
