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The Press Action Framework (CAP Médias Niger) celebrated International Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, at the General Seyni Kountché stadium, during a conference-debate. Three themes were hosted by panelists. These include “the role of the media in times of safeguarding the homeland”; “the economic life of the media” and finally the question of the collective media agreement.
During his presentation, panelist Idi Gambon, Secretary General of SAINFO, spoke to the participants about the collective agreement. He specified that this document has already been signed and its implementation or adherence depends on the will of media promoters, most of whom have declined the offer to adhere to it. “In Niger, we have a collective agreement which has been signed since November 29, 2021, filed with the Labor Court on November 1er February 2022. We have put a one-year moratorium in the convention, which means that our convention has been in force since February 2023,” he added.
The panelist did not mince his words in calling on the promoters of private media to take their responsibilities, because, he said, it is up to the promoter to put in the means to ensure the survival of his organ. “People need to understand this because each time, people link this to the State,” he noted. Regarding the issue of the press assistance fund, the panelist revealed that the fight that the unions were leading before the events of July 26 consisted of bringing the press assistance fund to a billion CFA francs. “But this is not possible without unity of action, and the struggle will be in vain and doomed to failure. We must unite to get these people to at least respect the Labor Code, the 2012 law plus the collective agreement signed last year. Whoever can’t, shuts down. It’s not an obligation, it’s a business,” he said.
In his deciphering of the second theme on “the role of the media in a period of safeguarding sovereignty”, panelist Abdoulaye Issaka, journalist, explained that the independence of the media lies in the perception they have of democracy. “We are in a context which makes us, as media people, those who must raise awareness in the national community so that there is indeed real awareness,” he underlined.
Previously, the president of the Press Action Framework, Mr. Moussa Moudi called on public and private media men to have a high sense of patriotism and to remember that journalism is our profession which cannot deconstruct our original and original belonging to our homeland. “We already salute the great resilience of our colleagues in the public and private sectors in this particular context of transition; We are proud to note that our press quickly complied with the will of the Nigerien people and is therefore carrying out professional and patriotic work which deserves the gratitude of the authorities and citizens,” he added.
Hamissou Yahaya (ONEP)
