The Nigeria Union of Journalists has requested the Bola Tinubu administration to defend press freedom and overview legal guidelines that criminalise journalism within the nation.
The NUJ acknowledged this on Wednesday when its management met with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Particulars of the assembly had been offered by Mr Shettima’s spokesperson. Stanley Nkwocha.
In his speech, the NUJ President, Alhassan Abdullahi, urged Mr Shettima “to take a agency stance in defending press freedom, and guaranteeing that journalists aren’t punished for doing their constitutional responsibility.”
He additionally reportedly urged the federal government “to provoke a complete overview of colonial-era legal guidelines comparable to sections of the Legal and Penal Codes that proceed to criminalise journalism,” sustaining that “libel ought to be decriminalised.”
PREMIUM TIMES has reported a number of cases of violation of journalists’ rights by state brokers, together with the police and different safety businesses. The Press Assault Tracker by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Growth has additionally documented a number of circumstances of assaults on journalists in the middle of their work.
Mr Shettima, nonetheless, mentioned the Tinubu administration was dedicated to defending press freedom.
“I need to guarantee you that this administration will do its finest to advertise, challenge, and protect the pursuits of the journalism occupation,” Mr Shettima mentioned.
Learn the total assertion by Mr Nkwocha beneath.
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has assured the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stays an ally of the media and is dedicated to defending and advancing the journalism occupation within the nation.
The vp recalled that President Tinubu has lengthy been supportive of the media and wouldn’t deviate from his constant monitor file of upholding the integrity of the journalism occupation in Nigeria.
Mr Shettima gave the peace of mind on Wednesday when he hosted a delegation of the NUJ management on the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The vp, nonetheless, famous that the federal government and residents alike count on rather a lot from the media, emphasizing that the journalism occupation stands nearly at par with the judiciary.
In response to him, journalists are anticipated to carry public officers accountable and adjudicate on problems with governance.
“In President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you’ve a buddy, an ally, and a proprietor who has been form to the Nigerian media over time.
“I need to guarantee you that this administration will do its finest to advertise, challenge, and protect the pursuits of the journalism occupation. You’re the life wire of the nation — we are able to’t afford to muzzle you,” the vp mentioned.
Describing the media because the conscience of the nation, Mr Shettima confused that authorities can’t afford to intimidate journalists, as they’re indispensable to the survival of democracy within the nation.
“Previous generations of Nigerian leaders — from Herbert Macaulay to Nnamdi Azikiwe and even Obafemi Awolowo — had been first journalists earlier than they grew to become political leaders,” the vp recalled.
VP Shettima acknowledged the challenges dealing with the media trade, noting that a number of media organisations in Nigeria wrestle to pay workers salaries and emoluments.
He appealed to the NUJ to stay hopeful, promising that President Tinubu would proceed to assist the union.
“Be relaxation assured that the President will render his assist to your organisation. We can’t afford to permit the journalism occupation to die,” he added.
Mr Shettima additional famous that President Tinubu’s choice to take away gas subsidies was made within the nationwide curiosity, simply as he reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to repositioning the Nigerian economic system for the good thing about all residents.
Earlier, the Nationwide President of the NUJ, Alhassan Abdullahi, drew the Vice President’s consideration to some crucial points confronting journalists in the middle of doing their job, urging him to make use of his workplace “to take a agency stance in defending press freedom, and guaranteeing that journalists aren’t punished for doing their constitutional responsibility.”
He additionally urged the federal government “to provoke a complete overview of colonial-era legal guidelines comparable to sections of the Legal and Penal Codes that proceed to criminalise journalism,” sustaining that “libel ought to be decriminalised.”
Different calls for made by the NUJ President embody facilitation of a nationwide security protocol for journalists, in collaboration with safety businesses, to make sure that no reporter is harmed for merely reporting the information.
He additionally known as for the federal government’s partnership with the media to provoke a media assist framework, together with coaching grants, comfortable loans, tax reduction, and a focused bailout for crucial media establishments.
The NUJ additionally sought partnerships with TETFUND, universities, and worldwide media institutes to uplift coaching requirements throughout the occupation, in addition to the creation of a Everlasting Authorities- Media Liaison Platform below the workplace of the vp to foster common engagement, make clear nationwide insurance policies, and forestall the vacuum breeding misinformation.
Mr Abdullahi pledged the assist of the Nigerian press for President Tinubu’s growth agenda, noting, nonetheless, that the press will at all times preserve the precise to talk fact to energy for the survival of democracy.
“We’re institutional companions and wouldn’t be drowned within the false narratives that the media have to be antagonistic to authorities. Identical method we name out the federal government once we really feel that sure points aren’t clearly given the wanted consideration, we additionally could be able to applaud the federal government when issues have been performed proper,” he added.
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He counseled the administration of President Tinubu over what he described as tangible efforts and agency assist in key areas of nationwide growth, regardless of the financial headwinds dealing with Nigeria, identical to many different nations.
Mr Abdullahi acknowledged that in lower than three years, the administration has undertaken daring reforms focused at stabilising the nation’s economic system.
Stanley Nkwocha
Senior Particular Assistant to The President on Media & Communications
Workplace of The Vice President
