The Radio, Television, Theatre and Art Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) has called for the implementation of the media salary scheme, saying it was necessary to upgrade  the salaries of media workers.

Kabir Tsanni, the newly elected National President of RATTAWU,  made the call at the inaugural meeting of  the union’s  Central Working Committee (CWC) on Thursday in Abuja.

Tsanni called on the Federal Government to implement the media salary structure  canvassed  for by its members across the federation.

The RATTAWU president said that there was need for the government to upgrade and implement  the media salary structure  considering the importance of the media profession and the risk attached to it.

“It is very unfair for the Federal Government to place media workers alongside civil servants on minimum wage.

“This is because our job is far more challenging and demanding than that in  the normal civil service set-up,’’ he said.

He stressed that the minimum wage could no longer match the present economic realities in the country, adding that this was the best time to fully implement the salary scheme.

According to Tsanni, those operating in media houses  urgently deserve  a special salary structure as  being enjoyed  in  some other sectors.

The RATTAWU president said the issue  of media salary had long been presented to  the National Assembly and  other relevant  agencies of government.