By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has expressed concern over the limited...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Niger State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has expressed concern over the limited access to individuals in positions of authority, which it says is hindering journalists' ability to source accurate information on government activities and events.
The State Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Abu Nmodu, made this known in a press statement signed by the Council Secretary, Usman Chiji, during a courtesy visit to the new General Manager of Radio Niger, Malam Mohammed Kolo, at his office in Minna.
Comrade Nmodu noted that while the current administration is making commendable efforts to develop the state, the reluctance of some government officials to grant media access is obstructing the effective dissemination of information regarding these achievements.
He urged government officials to regard journalists as partners in progress and called for a well-coordinated approach to media access to enable newsmen to perform their duties professionally and help build the government’s image.
The NUJ Chairman also revealed that the Union has established internal mechanisms to combat quackery in the profession. He lamented that patronage by some individuals in authority was encouraging unqualified persons to pose as journalists.
He called on members of the public to report cases of quack journalism to the Union for appropriate action.
Comrade Nmodu assured the new General Manager of Radio Niger of the Union's support and cooperation to ensure his success in office.
In his response, Malam Mohammed Kolo thanked the NUJ delegation for the visit and acknowledged the Union’s concerns. He challenged the NUJ to intensify efforts in tackling quackery, noting that the proliferation of untrained individuals claiming to be journalists was damaging the profession.
He also emphasized the need for the government to involve both NUJ and RATTAWU in the recruitment process for media houses to ensure professionalism in the sector.
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