Media Gurus Urge Practitioners To Abide By Ethics, Regulations

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By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi


Journalism veterans winded up Bauchi book launch with a plea for media practitioners to strictly abide by the rules and regulations governing the practice of the profession to curb dishing out fake news being associated with social media practices.
They  also advocated for standard remunerations of working journalists in the country to safeguard their well-being, welfare and security while carrying out their legitimate social responsibility as provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The stakeholders spoke at the launching of a book titled, ‘My Journey’ written by the outgoing National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Shu’aibu Usman Leman who served as the union’s scribe for 19 consecutive years, held on Monday at Hazibal Hotel and Suites, Bauchi.
Welcoming dignitaries and members of the union to the book launch earlier, President of the NUJ, Chris Isiguzo noted that Leman has in the book, clearly encapsulated what was done in the past 19 years while he was administering the union, following which he was described as encyclopedia of the NUJ who gives its accurate, vivid details and records.
Isiguzo said, “It would be difficult for any president of the union that has served with Shu’aibu Usman Leman including myself to give an accurate, vivid details, records of the NUJ like he would do because he seen it all, understands the dynamics, the political intrigues and dynamics of the union, and that’s why we all come to celebrate him”.
The NUJ President observed that without a flourishing, responsive and responsible media industry, the unity of the country and Nigerian democracy is in peril, hence the media is the oxygen of a working democracy, adding “If the media is not working, Nigeria is not working too’.
Mr. Chris Isiguzo also noted that it’s a political season with the actors already on rampage everywhere, saying so many things, “Things they will do, things they will not do, and the things they don’t have capacity of doing, which called for the media to rise to the challenges, looking critically at their policy documents, visions and missions, as well as their promises to the electorate”
He stated, “So the journalists must begin to set agenda, we are clearly defined as agenda setters. This is the time for us to assume fully that role and begin to discharge same, so that we are not easily carried away by peculiar considerations, by mercantile interest, by selfish interest, and what have you, we must rise to the occasion and not remain as slap dogs, we must be watch dogs as we have been clearly defined to be”.
The former NUJ National Secretary, Shuaibu Usman Leman had while speaking, called on governments at all levels to make protection of lives and property of journalists a priority, adding that the gesture would be regarded as a special consideration for journalism which is pivotal to the development of democracy in the country.
Leman, urged the NUJ leadership to continue to struggle for better salary structure for journalists in the country, stressing that when journalists are properly paid, they will perform optimally to which both journalism profession and Nigerian democracy will truly benefit.
“If you look at it, journalists are one of the set of professionals that are least paid in this country. We have tried our best to ensure that salaries and emoluments are improved upon, the conditions and welfare of journalists are properly taken care of”
“However, we have not succeeded as expected and this is one of my greatest regrets and I hope that those who come after us will continue with the struggle so that in no distant future, we will succeed in this regard. My belief is that when journalists are properly paid, they will perform optimally and both journalism and democracy will truly benefit from this,” he said.

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