It must have been unsettling for journalists watching the video of former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode lambast and embarrass the Calabar correspondent of Daily Trust Newspapers, Eyo Charles, a few days ago, over what he deemed to be an ‘inappropriate’ question by the journalist.

For every dyed-in-the-wool journalist or anyone who has ever written any medium, it was very much akin to watching your brother get his behind kicked in public, while you watched helplessly – unable to fight for him or help him take a beating.

Sadly, Eyo was not alone. His ‘brothers’ were there and watched as he was left bruised and purple-eyed by an individual known for his whip-like tongue.

What really did the journalist ask him?

Well, FFK, as he is popularly called, had been making trips round the country, especially to states governed by the PDP, to assess the performance of governors. Well, seeing as he is no more in office and was not on any presidential-stamped mission, the curious mind would always wonder what is amiss.

Eyo’s mind kicked into action and he blurted out “Who is bank-rolling the trip?” He declared war with that question.

Many have categorised Eyo’s question as ‘unethical’. But, looking at the Nigerian political scene, nothing goes for nothing. Could FFK have put his resources on the line to make the tour? It is very unlikely and his inability to answer that question has even made Nigerians more suspicious.

At some point in his acidic response, FFK mentioned the ‘brown envelope’ and asked if Eyo was judging him by such [brown envelope] standards.

In his opinion piece titled “What Is ‘Unprofessional’ About Eyo Charles’ Question To Fani-Kayode? Charles Asabor called out those who thought Eyo was rude.

“Those that are seeing Charles as a rude journalist should please eschew such erroneous perception. They should rather begin to thumb up for him as he did what the society expects of him.

“The reason why he should be given the thumb up cannot be farfetched as the democratic importance of journalism is related to public good. The kind of question he asked at the event which is high quality helps ensure we are all better informed and thus benefits democracy. We should not forget that the question he asked, even if it was in public, has an element investigative journalism.

“To my personal view, Charles asked a professional question which Fani-Kayode failed to answer, and therefore bungled the opportunity that would have enabled him to explain to the public on why he is embarking on the tour thereby boosting his image.”

What is the ‘brown envelope’, though? Simply put, it is some form of ‘honorarium’ for journalists who attend any event. While this does not influence what goes into print, it does, actually, determine of the body which invited the journalist will invite him or her again. Many journalists have begged off these ‘honorarium’ while some still angle for them after events.

But how did journalists find themselves in such a position?

Former Commissioner of Information in Taraba State and one-time editor at both This Day and LEADERSHIP, Emmanuel Bello, in a discussion many years ago, put the buck down at the feet of publishers.

“If you want your reporters to look away from the ‘brown envelopes’ offered at events, you have to do a number of things; check their welfare, check their salaries, check their transportation and other factors. While these do not translate to being ethical, it beefs up the moral fibre and gives them no reason to look sideways, especially towards the pittance offered at these events.”

At the time Bello made this statement, he cited a few examples (he did mention names, yes) with some media houses who tell their reporters: “I have given you the ID card; it is your meal ticket; what payment do you want again?

“It is little surprise many reporters have found themselves in the pockets of politicians, many of who are ready to make these funny offers, because they already know the state of the media house where these reporters work.”

For investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo, he is looking beyond FFK’s disgraceful rant.

“Forget Femi Fani-Kayode for a second, until brown envelope collection becomes a no-no, Nigerian journalists should expect this kind of ridicule from time to time.

“As I’ve always said, this industry urgently needs a national conversation on pay & money ethics. True, [FFK’s] action is condemnable but, while the perennial question of ethics doesn’t excuse his behaviour, it certainly did embolden him,” he said.

While Soyombo engaged on Twitter, a Twitter user,@CallMePascal, replied him: “Brown envelope has destroyed the profession. It is even the reason behind the bad blood amongst journalists.The profession is not properly regulated, Many journalists are owed for months yet NUJ does nothing, Truth is, the brown envelope stuff is why journalists are down-priced.”

@Vicrobor insisted that “If a foreign journalist had asked the same question, you can guess his reaction,” but @ichie117 pointed out that a foreign journalist would have been more tactical. “But a foreign journalist will take it from step lower may be by asking ‘if’ his tour is sponsored by any group or individual. Not who is bankrolls your tour. Sounds insulting but FFK was over the upper range of normal reaction to be frank.”

While the debate raged on, another user,@charlesnzechi pointed out that the issue remained far from over. “I’ve said it again and again; until this particular issue of brown envelope practice is properly addressed, the deserved integrity and honour of the profession would not be fully realized.”

The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) responded almost immediately, condemning the response of FFK and, almost 24 hours later, the chapter of the union in Akwa Ibom called on its members to stay away from FFK’s media briefing in the state. Sadly, many think it is only a matter of time before the status quo sets in.

One of them is Twitter user, @fascolajamit, who said “Until (inducements/temptation) becomes a no-no, (people/individuals/professionals) should expect (harassment/attacks) from time to time. This line of argument is used often to explain-away many crimes & prejudices. Where’s decorum & common sense which is expected of everyone?”

Others blamed the poor pay of reporters for the constant ridicule from politicians.

@Chukyjunior commented: “I dare say this isn’t an unpopular opinion…The fact that most in the profession depend on this for stomach’s sake doesn’t mean they don’t abhor it as well. I like that you put it forward though. A truly pertinent issue that requires attention.”

@MELanin_2020 toed the same path. “I align with you on this. Journalists, especially print reporters, are paid peanuts, and not even consistent. They would swallow any indignity for that day’s survival. FFK only preyed on what he knows about journalists. Imagine his colleagues blaming him for that kind of question,” with @Iam_2nday putting the buck at the feet of the politicians themselves. “An industry convo around pay& money i stan. But it’s not entirely the fault of these journalists though. One can’t downplay proprietorial influence in the scheme of things. And in our case, about 80 per cent of media outlets are either owned or bankrolled by those involved in politics while the remaining few don’t wanna be in the bad books of these politicians so as to attract advertisers.”

This confirmed the position of Bello and many others who have either retired from the profession, faced off with politicians on such questions or expressed bold reservations about the ‘brown envelope’, that the disdain for and poor pay from employers leave the average journalist at the mercy of politicians.

“Which the NUJ have championed. Today, as we speak, only a few, if any, of the private newspaper companies can still pay their staff something substantial. Many have even told their reporters that they have a medium to fend for themselves, and not expect to be paid by the office,” tweeted @DrCharl92513641.

Another user,@crownprinceay tweeted: “The fourth estate has whored herself to the politicians for survival and greed. Only a few amongst them stand with their head&conscience still in the right place. It is only expected that whoever pays the piper dictates the tune. Time to break the manacles of brown envelopes.”

But another user, @Kickflowdown would not agree, opining that it was a national issue and not just one exclusive to the media. “It’s not the industry, it’s the country. No nation pays journalists employed by private sector. Fix the country to fix journalism and every other profession.”

Another user, @Felixgreen pitched tent with@Kickflowdown. “’Brown envelope’ aside, ~82 million Nigerians are living on less than a dollar a day, combined unemployment/underemployment rate at a staggering ~56%, & politically exposed persons owning &/ or promoting mass media coys in Nigeria, SURVIVAL INSTINCT sets in, Journalism or not,” with @IAmFor2n8 pitching in with “Valid argument chief. Brown envelopes will remain valid until we rise beyond personal survival. A person in need wants the brown envelope and might care less about other factors”.

In his opinion piece titled “Journalists: The Proverbial Brown Envelope, a Potent Threat to Journalism In Nigeria,” Ali Sabo raged about the protection of journalists by ensuring their welfare, in order to shield them from politicians who make a mockery of them.

“In Nigeria, the debate on the protection of journalists’ rights has been going on for so many decades, but as I penned this, we have yet to find a common ground and a common consensus that could address the challenges to journalism that have lingered for far too long that can be passed off as healthy.

“Journalists in Nigeria are some of the most disrespected and assaulted professionals anywhere by government officials, private individuals, and media house owners who pay them meager amounts as salaries which can very hardly cater to even their most basic needs.

“As if that wasn’t bad enough, some media organizations go as insensitive as giving only ID cards to their staff as meal tickets.

“This unfair treatment of journalists by media establishments who collect a huge amount of money as advertisements from companies and government MDAs – among other sources – have exposed many journalists to the dangers of corruption and made some of them to compromise even the most abiding ethos of journalism for the singular purpose of survival. These are some of the reasons why journalists are not respected and placed in high regard in Nigeria as they naturally should.”

Sadly, the NUJ has no answer.

It is not an issue with the NUJ, it is one with the media houses – many of which the union has failed to rein in, even about payment of salaries and other emoluments to their staff over time but failed – and internal regulation, opined a former deputy vice president, NUJ, Northeast, Suleiman Uba Gaya.

Gaya conceded that the profession, like others, has got its challenges but, even at that, remained an honourable one, inspite of the disrespect it garners in Nigeria.

“Undoubtedly, journalism is a beautiful profession with unmatched ethics. If I’m correct, it abhors the collection of brown envelope from news sources. Nigerian journalists should embrace this virtuous ethics as it will help shut naysayers up in the future.

“Let me tell you,” he said a few years ago, “the Fourth Estate is not weak; it is very strong. Politicians have seen this strength and they know how dangerous it can be, so they do everything in their power to have it by their side. If it were not so potent, no one will care about it. The only ones who do not know how powerful the Fourth Estate is are its practitioners – both the owners and the reporters who work for them.

“In the end, the power to rise and say ‘no’ rests with us. No one else can say that for us; not government, not the owners of these media houses, not the people we write about and, definitely, not the other unions; it is us.

“These issues may never go away, until we begin to face up to them and kill them off by saying ‘no’, politely turning unnecessary overtures down and maintaining our lanes but the forces against the journalist are more than a few; his employer, the people he is writing to inform/educate fight for, the elites, the ruling class, the economy and many others. In the end, no one fights for the journalist; the journalist is alone, unable to fight his own cause. The Fourth Estate has no friends.”