By Gift Samuel, The Sight News
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has joined millions of stakeholders across the world in observing the 2017 International Day to End Impunity against Journalists which holds every November 02.
In line with this, the NUJ National Secretary, Shuaibu Usman Leman in a statement on Thursday, said that it is pertinent to note that acts of violence against journalists and media equipment are not only a crime, but also serious threats to press freedom and by implication to democracy.
He noted that, “The NUJ like other sister Unions and Associations within the International Federation of Journalists is committed to paying particular attention to the safety of all Journalists in the country, and respect for freedom of expression and press freedom which are of paramount importance to assuring freedom of the press, freedom of expression and democratic governance.
“As the World observes this day, we call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to be conscious of the fact that as professionals whose responsibility is to monitor governance and hold Government accountable to the masses, and to educate and enlighten society, Journalists should as a group be given adequate protection in the discharge of their duties”.
Comrade Leman further said that, “The NUJ affirms the fact that this freedom includes the right to seek and receive information from all available sources to enable formulation of proper opinions to whomsoever one desires and to do so through whichever means it is feasible to communicate without any let or hindrance.
“We stress our commitment to the objectives and principles enshrined in the ABUJA DECLARATION of November 12, 2007, when the Federation of African Journalists was inaugurated, especially as it relates to coordinating ‘actions to improve the safety and security of journalists and work with international agencies and other stakeholders to confront impunity and build a culture of safety in journalism’” he noted.
The National Secretary stated also that the NUJ believes that protecting journalists is very important because of the risks they face daily in the course of their duties. “Many are targeted for doing what is legitimate and protecting them is a humanitarian concern as well as a professional concern”.
The day is being marked world over with a call to #EndImpunity for crimes against Journalists.
