The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has called on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Disclose his administration’s plan and agenda for protecting journalists and media workers in the country.
This call was made in a joint statement signed by, Chairman of FCT Correspondents Chapel, Comrade Jide Oyekunle and Raphael Oni, Secretary, marking World Press Freedom Day on Friday, May 3.
The NUJ urged President Tinubu to implement comprehensive safety measures to enable journalists to perform their essential role in democracy as they decry toxicity in the field.
“Today, we join the global community in marking World Press Freedom Day. We remind the Nigerian Government of its legal obligation to defend and protect the fundamental rights of Nigerians, including Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression, as enshrined in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” the statement read.
“The security operatives who act with impunity and disregard democratic tenets must face the law. Incessant attacks on journalists and media workers are unacceptable and condemnable. These attacks must stop. Journalists must be protected to carry out their responsibilities without fear of violence or retribution,” the union emphasized.
The NUJ reiterated that journalism is not a crime and is essential for democracy and positive change.
“If democracy is about good governance, accountability, and transparency, then Press Freedom should not be denied, curtailed, restricted, or taken away,” the statement added.
