Nigerian journalists abandon full-time jobs over low pay, risks; 64% cite salary as main exit reason
A Premium Times survey of 50 former full-time journalists found 64% left due to low pay, with many earning below Nigeria's N70,000 minimum wage—some radio staff in the North-west take home just N30,000 monthly. Risks like attacks, better pay abroad, and career shifts to academia/politics also drove the exodus, threatening accountability journalism in Africa's largest democracy.
To survive, 38% started side businesses, 36% freelanced, and 14% admitted taking "brown envelope" payments. The Nigeria Union of Journalists is pushing a Media Enhancement Bill for better labor rights and exploring health insurance schemes, though private sector compliance remains uncertain. Foreign outlets like BBC and Reuters lure talent with higher pay but often sideline local stories, worsening the brain drain.
As media viability fades, will you demand better support for journalism or consider how weakened accountability affects governance in your area?