PRESS COVERAGE OF THE PASSAGE OF NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE ACT IN NIGERIA (A STUDY OF VANGUARD AND THISDAY NEWSPAPER)

PRESS COVERAGE OF THE PASSAGE OF NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE ACT IN NIGERIA (A STUDY OF VANGUARD AND THISDAY NEWSPAPER)

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

The 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) recognizes Nigeria as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign country consisting of thirty-six (36) states a federal capital Territory and Seven Hundred and Sixty-Eight (768) local government Areas.

The legislative powers of the Federal Government of Nigeria are vested in the National Assembly. Item 34 of the Exclusive legislative List, under the 1999 constitution (as amended), confers on the National Assembly the exclusive authority to legislate on labour matters, which encompasses trade union activities, individual relations, employees’ conditions of services and welfare, industrial dispute, prescribing a national minimum wage for the federation or for any part of the federation and industrial arbitrations.

Based on the above constitutional provisions, the Nigerian National Assembly recently passed into law a National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2011. Consequently upon that, controversy, misrepresentations and threats of strike actions have followed the implementation of the provisions of this law with some state governments insisting that they cannot afford to pay the new national minimum wage.

A wage is described by the National Minimum Wage Act (as amended) to mean the total emolument paid every month to an employee, for performing the services for which he or she is employed, on the basis of a forty-hour week, and howsoever as the emolument may be designated by the employer. The National Minimum Wage (amendment) Act, 2011 was enacted to amend some sections of the National Minimum Wage Act 2004 by proving for a new National Minimum wage for the entire country and regulating matters relating to the national minimum wage in Nigeria.

As from the commencement of this 2011 National Minimum Wage Act, every employer is required to pay a wage that is not less than 18,000 per month to every employee engaged by an employer. The amount of 18,000 (Eighteen Thousand Naira) must be clear of all deductions except fro those authorized by law for example, pension, contributions payee tax etc.

The press serves as the link between the government, other institution, parastatals and the people. It is therefore the platform through which mutual understanding is created between the government and the people. In democracy, power recite with the people and as part of the fundamental human right, such power is expressed through the press.

Public awareness and support on any national issues depends on the effectiveness of the media campaign on it. According to Gamble and Gamble (2008:18) insensitivity to another is needs and preferred ways of interacting can hamper our ability to relate effectively. Mark Eze (2008:102) while quoting Shaw (1972:86) says “Greater visibility of an events they say leads to greater public awareness and concern for an issue. Therefore, the manner in which an event or issue is presented in the news media contributes a lot to the knowledge and understanding of such an event or issue”.

No wonder, the agenda setting approach by the press in the issue of the National Minimum Wage Act 2011 opened the flood gate of interest, ideas, criticism from the public against the lawmakers until the bill was passed into law.

The importance and the role of press has been stated in Article 22 of 1999 constitution as follows:

“The Press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people”.

This study therefore focuses on the influences the press exerted on the authority, the labour union, and other interest groups in the process of the passage of the National Minimum Wage Act 2011.

In order to uphold this fundamental objective of the national minimum wage act and inform the people on its level of development, Thisday newspaper, reported from Abuja on 23 February that, “the Senate has approved the #18,000 new Minimum National Wage for workers proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan. The bill was given a expeditious passage as the Senate suspended order 79 of its standing rules to amend the National Minimum Wage Act, thus increasing the Minimum wage from #7,500 to #18,000”.

Other related reports have been provided by the press from the very beginning of this bill until the very approval time. The daily proceeding and the debates on the issue of the National minimum wage have also been reported appropriately. Those reports provided the people with the update on the government reaction to such public issue. The organize labour also relied on these reports to strategies influence mobilizing its members and other relevant institutions to express their views and push for its success.

1.2     Statement of the Problems

The problem under investigation is the press coverage of the National Minimum Wage Act. This statement also acknowledges the significance of the press attitude towards government actions on the public welfares. It also looks into the extent to which the national Minimum Wage Act is being reported and covered by the two dailies newspaper.

Other issues to consider in this statement include:

-         The level of objectivity in their reportage as against sentiments

-         The level of professionalism applied

-         The frequency of the report in the dailies newspapers.

-         The extent of attention given to the National Minimum Wage Act.

-         The sensitivity of the press reportage and the public expectations.

-         The likely challenges that might be experienced in their quest for the information on act.

1.3     Objectives of the Study

 A number of objectives are considered and set out for achievement in this study to include:

a)  To investigate what took precedence in the coverage of the passage of National Minimum Wage Act, that is whether ethical standards or self interest as well as political and religious sentiments of the media owners.

b)  To study whether professional training of the journalists or lack of its affects the media is objective of the coverage.

c)  To find out the number of space and frequency devoted for the report of the act.

d)  To consider the prominence given to the act, the page (front pages, inside pages, back page etc) and the importance attached to the detail report of this wage.

e)  To find out whether other issues were placed ahead of this act in terms of frequency or not.

f)   To find out the nature of news, feature, advertorials, editorial etc used to educate the people on this bill.

g)  To examine whether the press coverage was adequate to create the necessary awareness for public participation.

1.4     Significance of the study

This study is scholarly unique and original as it takes a critical look into the extent of the media performances in setting agenda for economic and social welfare of the people in Nigeria. It is significant in the sense that it educates the people, interest groups, trade union and ally groups on the role of the media in changing a strong held opinion and policy toward a better and improved standard for social harmony.

The study examine the quality of the media service delivery in Nigeria and seeks to strike a balance between what used to be and what ought to be. It further evaluates and recommend for adjustment if any, for better understanding and mutual benefit.

Issues on the passage of the National Minimum Wage law are still fresh in the minds of Nigerians. The passage has just been done; however the implementation still remains a mile stone in the government sector.

It is, therefore very important that the press don’t relent on the nature of making sure that the implementation is quickly done. This study leaves no stone unturned on all various issues surrounding the smooth implementation of this act.

1.5     Research Questions

(a)               How can we assess the number of space allotted to the discussion of the issue on the national minimum wage act?

(b)               What is the level of importance and regard placed on the wage issues regarding the position either front page, back page or inside page?

(c)               To what extent can we attribute the success of the wage law to the quantity of information published on it.

(d)               What were the nature of the story used to have greater influence on the masses for whom such stories are written?

(e)               How can we examine the level of professionalism of the press men who covered the bill proceedings?

(f) Did the ownership of the press in any way influenced the story and its publication?

1.6     Research Hypotheses:

The following hypotheses are relevant for test and verification:

Hypotheses I

H1    The Press devoted enough space for adverts editorials, cartoons in favour of the minimum wage more than anything else.

H0    The Press did not allocate more space on cartoons adverts advertorials, and editorials, more than anything else.

Hypotheses II

H2    story lines and placement were appropriate and attractive in favour of the wage act.

H0    The story placement were not appropriate and attractive but hidden within the pages inside.

Hypotheses III

H3    The minimum wage issues were more frequently reported than other information at the time of its passage.

H0    issues on minimum wage were less frequently reported than other information at the time of its passage.

Hypotheses IV

H4    Interpretative, opinion articles, letters and advertisement were adequately used to educate the people on the minimum age act.

H0    interpretative opinion articles, letters and adverts as devices were not adequately used during the passage of the act


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