By Blessing Etim
The President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Chris Isiguzo has said that in order to ensure civil performance of leadership freedom of the press must be protected and promoted at all time.
Isiguzo said this at the 2015 – 2022 NUJ – Legislative Awards held at the International Conference Center Abuja, on the 24th of March, 2022.
While condemning the harassments and maltreatment faced by Journalists in the course of discharging thier duties, the President urged the government to establish measures that will help curb insecurity, in order to make the environment a safe one for journalists to practice their profession.
“Many Journalists in Nigeria have faced harrasment, physical injuries and even several deaths recorded in the course of discharging their duties. It will be wrong for the government at any level to undermine the freedom of the press, such an action will be seen as autocratic. To ensure civil performance of leadership, freedom of the press must be protected at all times”.
He However urged journalists to relentlessly hold on to the ethics of the profession, and not compromise for any reason, while enjoining them to eschew the propagation of fake news as well as hate speech in any form.
On his part, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who was represented by the majority leader of the House, Honourable Ado Doguwa in his speech, acknowledged the role played by the media in directing the affairs of the the society.
“We do not take your role for granted, as people who do not only inform but direct the affairs of the society. If there will be need to create a fourth arm of the government, this arm of the society called NUJ will be the best bet”.
He expressed gratitude to the Union for finding him worthy of the award, while pledging that lawmakers will buckle up in order to meet up with expectations of the media.
The Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan who was one of the awardees, was also present through his representative, Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda, to grace the occasion.
