The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has denied uncomplimentary remarks about media professionals credited to its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatunde Ajakaiye, who was quoted as describing the profession as beggarly.

The FCT administration in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by its Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Hazat Sule, described the comment as a misrepresentation of remarks made by the Permanent Secretary.

Sule explained that 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.”

He was also said to have condemned some media proprietors who toy with the remunerations of journalists in their employ and regretted that the non-payment of salaries was turning the honorable profession into a career being seen as beggarly.

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

“He also urged the 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’ remunerations.

“Dr. 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,” the statement read.

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