From Saka Bolaji, Minna
Niger State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has joined Journalists all over the world to celebrate the World Press Freedom Day, reiterating the need for all leaders to promote access to information and safety of media practitioners as a panacea for peace and Justice.
A statement on Wednesday by the Chairman, Mohammed Mohammed and the Secretary Abu Nmodu recalled that the World Press Freedom day is a United Nation’s General Assembly declaration aimed at celebrating the fundamental principles of press freedom.
The Niger State Council of the NUJ used the occasion to pay tribute to all Journalists who have lost their lives in the course of their job which they observed is often caused by those who abhor free flow of information and the core principle of press freedom.
The union called on government at all levels to leverage on the window provided by press freedom to inform the followers appropriately through participatory governance in line with best democratic practice.
“We expect government at all levels to understand this year’s theme ‘Critical minds for crucial time, media role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies’ to stop executive arbitrariness, despotic leadership style and enhance rule of law build on separation of power ”, the statement read in part.
The statement added that, “considering the vulnerability of media men to danger, we implore leaders at all levels to defend a free media and right to truth by avoiding gagging the media and crack down against the journalists because only a free press build on democratic culture can easily guarantee peace and justice for all”.
“In the world over those who hates Journalists, hate free flow of information and those who hate freedom of information certainly have something to hide away from the public thus work against the interest of all”, the statement declared.
The chairman and secretary of the union however called on Journalists to abide by the ethics of the profession while assuring them of the support of the union in ensuring their safety in the discharge of their duties.
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