BENIN CITY- As the world marked World Press Freedom Day yesterday, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Edo State Council has expressed the need for synergy with various security agencies across the country in order to promote understanding for better working relationship.
Chairman of the council, Comrade Roland Osakue disclosed this at the state police command during a stop over in a rally to mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day.
The Edo State NUJ Chairman Commended the Edo State Police boss for his robust relationship with journalists in the state and sues for its sustainance.
The NUJ rally team as received at the state Police Command by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, who applauded the NUJ boss in the state for keeping a team of unbiased journalists that always strive to get other side of story in matters involving police in other to survive at a balanced report.
The Commissioner of Police re-affirmed the constitutional right to press freedom by journalists and sympathises with the union for their father colleagues in the line of duty during crossfire.
There was also a stop over at the office of the state security service, SSS where a letter was presented to the authority.
After the rally along major roads, which ended at the unions secretariat, Chairman, Comrade Osakue stressed the importance of World Press Freedom Day, saying that is meant to remember some of their members who died in the cause of their duty to humanity and others that are being incarcerated across the world for doing their job.
He therefore added that as the fourth estate of the realm, other arms of government should come together with the media to move the nation forward.
It would be recalled that the United Nation General Assembly declared May 3 every year as World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the importance of press freedom and to remind government of their duty to uphold and respect the right to freedom of expression enshrined under article 19 of the 1948 Universal declaration of human rights.
While, the Ondo state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has felicitated with media professionals on the occasion of the 2016 World Press Freedom Day.
A press statement signed by Union’s state chairman, James Sowole and the General Secretary, Leke Adegbite called on government and media owners to provide improved welfare packages for journalists to enable them to discharge their duties without fear or favour.
The statement laments unwarranted suffering of practicing journalists arising from non-payment of backlog of salary by some private newspaper proprietors and state governments.
NUJ notes with dismay how media professionals can perform their responsibility of watchdog to those ruling class when they (journalists) are being poorly paid or not paid at all by their employees, as their welfare and need are undermines.
The Union commends recent steps by its national leadership to picket head offices of some newspapers in Lagos and Abuja that are owing journalists salaries and efforts to hasten negotiations on the new Media Salary Structure, (MSS).
NUJ which expressed satisfaction with the cordial relationship between journalists and security agents in Ondo state, however advised security operatives to train their officers on how to work with media professionals to guarantee press freedom.
While bemoaning the deplorable working condition of media practitioners at OSRC, the Union charges the Ondo state government to stop foot dragging in repositioning the station for better service delivery.
The statement however cautioned journalists in the state against unethical conducts in the discharge of their daily assignments, especially as the 2016 governorship election approaches in Ondo state.
NUJ president -Odusile
