Ahead of this year’s International Workers’ Day, Women in Journalism Africa, also known as WIJAFRICA, has released a new report highlighting widespread labour abuses and worsening welfare conditions in Nigeria’s media industry, with women journalists bearing a disproportionate burden.
The report, titled “Labour Abuse: How Nigerian Journalists Struggle to Survive,” is based on a four-month study conducted between January and April 2026. It draws on interviews with 170 journalists across 50 media organisations in 19 states, covering print, television, radio, and digital platforms.
The findings point to a systemic crisis within the sector. Across organisations, journalists reported delayed salaries, non-payment of wages, very low remuneration, absence of salary reviews, non-remittance of pension contributions, and failure to pay gratuities and retirement benefits. In several cases, staff were owed between four and twelve months’ salary, with some instances exceeding one year.
Many respondents said they were still expected to continue working under these conditions, often without clear communication from management. For women journalists, the impact is more severe. Respondents reported financial distress, burnout, workplace discrimination, and, in some cases, sexual harassment.
Many also said they relied on personal networks and informal support systems to meet basic living expenses such as rent, school fees, and healthcare.
According to Yomi Owope, Coordinator of WIJAFRICA, the findings reflect a deeper structural problem within the industry.
“What we are seeing is beyond poor welfare, extending to a breakdown of labour standards within the media industry. Journalists are working, but many are not being paid on time, not being paid fairly, and are left without any form of protection or long-term security,” he said.
“This has direct implications not just for the quality of journalism coming out of this country. When journalists are forced into survival mode, it affects how stories are reported. Basically, we are living in a system of paid press releases and sponsored posts.”
The report also highlights a growing culture of silence within the industry. Most respondents requested anonymity, while some declined to participate or later withdrew their contributions due to fear of retaliation or blacklisting.
Beyond economic concerns, the report underscores the human cost of these conditions. Journalists cited housing and school fees as their most pressing financial challenges, with many admitting to relying on gifts, honorariums, freelance work, and external assistance to survive.
The average experience level of respondents was approximately 15 years, indicating that the crisis affects not only entry-level staff but also mid-career and senior professionals.
WIJAFRICA, founded in 2014, is a pan-African network focused on advancing the professional development, welfare, and representation of women journalists across the continent.
Over the past decade, the organisation has worked to promote gender equity in media, support journalists through training and advocacy, and strengthen conversations around industry standards and accountability.
The organisation said the findings reinforce the urgent need for coordinated action across the media sector.
The report calls for stronger enforcement of labour laws, improved pension compliance, enhanced welfare protections for journalists, and targeted support for the sustainability of the media industry.
WIJAFRICA is urging stakeholders, including media organisations, government agencies, labour unions, and civil society, to engage with the findings and take concrete steps toward reform.
