The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Mohammed Garba, on Saturday said subscribing to the union's insurance scheme is now compulsory for all journalists in the country.
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Garba said this while speaking at the lying-in state and mini-church service organised for the late Mr Adolphus Okonkwo at the NUJ Press Centre at Owerri.
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The late Okonkwo, who was the NUJ National Financial Secretary, died in a motor accident on Aug. 2 alongside two other journalists.
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The dead journalists were returning to Lagos from Abuja after attending one of the union's official functions in the FCT.
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The lying-in-state and mini-church service were held at the Holy Ghost Parish at Abuke, in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo.
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Garba said the scheme became compulsory considering its exigency, adding that plans were underway to make it part of the conditions of being a full member of the union.
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"It is regrettable that out of the three journalists who died in the crash recently, only one had an insurance cover. I call on all practising journalists to embrace the scheme forthwith,'' he said.
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The NUJ president also said the union would soon float an endowment fund to cater for the special needs of members.
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He said some notable former journalists such as Sen.
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Smart Adeyemi and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa would be members of the fund's Board of Trustees.
Well it's very good that the whole of Nigeria knows this now so those affected will know the certain things to do to adjust to the situation...Good one!