By Osaretin Ekiadolor
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, has given the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF 24hours to rescind its purported ban of two journalists: Ezeocha Nze of The Guardian and Romanus Ugwu, Sun Newspapers, from covering its activities.
The council in a statement signed by Comrade Chuks Ehirim, chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, described the alleged ban by the NFF as hangover of the dictatorship that has become the bane of football development in the country.
According to Ehirim, 14 years after military rule, the NFF is yet to come to terms with democratic norms of freedom of speech and rule of law, warning that the union will not watch idly by while journalists are subjected to the whims and caprices of few individuals and or agencies.
Ehirim added that there is no law in the country that gives the NFF such powers to bar any journalists from carrying out with his official duties, stressing that the constitution gives them the right to hold any government official accountable and monitor governance on behalf of the people.
The NUJ FCT chairman stated that the officials of the NFF would be held accountable if any harm comes to the affected journalists, while urging other colleagues to beam the searchlight on the activities of the NFF for the good of the country.
