Vice President Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo has charged journalists to eschew sensational journalism and inflammatory reporting that are capable of leading to breach of peace.
Vice President Sambo gave this charge during the Nigerian Union of Journalists Awards tagged Ladi Lawal, which held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja. He said, “Let me appeal for maintenance of the highest standard of professional ethics by journalists. Strict adherence to the laid down body of norms for media professionals is very essential particularly in a democracy like ours.”
The Vice President, who was represented at the event by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Umar Sani, stressed that the determination of the President Jonathan administration at entrenching transparency, accountability and the strict observance of the rule of law in the polity ensured the coming into force of the Freedom of Information Act.
He therefore challenged the NUJ to partner with government in its efforts at promoting peaceful co-existence among Nigerians, while also assuring that government would continue to ensure the observance of the freedom of speech, association and the need to adequately enlighten the citizenry.
“It is on record that no one is being held on account of his views or as a prisoner of conscience since the inception of this administration. We are determined to sustain the trend.”
He congratulated the NUJ and its leadership for celebrating excellence and the recognition of performance, stating that the award would not only ginger healthy competition, but “it will go a long way in increasing performance of our journalists and upholding the tenets of Truth and Justice which are the fulcrum of journalism practice.”
In his remarks the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, also charged journalists to endeavour to report the positive side of the country. He noted that government was working round the clock and that the National Assembly worked assiduously to pass the FOI Act. He bought books for each member of the House of Representatives at a price to be negotiated.
Highlights of the occasion were presentation of awards to recipients with Leadership Newspapers, Tide, New Nigerian, Daily Trust and the Guardian Newspapers, reporters winning awards. Others include reporters of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.
Present at the occasion were the representatives of the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, Tony Akiotu, GMD of DAAR Communications, Director-General of the National Tourism Development Corporation, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe and the Acting Director-General of FRCN amongst others.
