The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has called for a better working relationship between its members and all the institutions of government.
The National Vice President, Zone C of the NUJ, Comrade Emmanuel Ifesinachi, made this known in an interview with our correspondent in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
He said the media has a vital role to play in the development of any society, adding that journalists should not be seen as enemies of the political class.
His words: “The government represents the people, and the journalists are also members of society. So, when a particular segment of society is threatened and their existence is jeopardised for one reason or another, the entire society suffers.
“The journalists are the mirror of society. They represent the image the government has of the people. In fact, they are the link between the government and the people, but unfortunately, the political class, especially in Nigeria, sees them as enemies of government,” he emphasised.
The NUJ Vice President called on the ruling class to always prioritise the welfare of journalists in their programmes and said, “It is the only way the press would serve society better.
“Generally, things are really difficult at the time, and people are dying of hunger. A lot of things are not the way they should be, and people, including journalists, are suffering. So, I call on the government to take positive steps towards enhancing their welfare, for them to exhibit utmost diligence in the performance of their duties,” he insisted.
Ifesinachi also called on public officeholders to always provide journalists with useful information that would help them balance their reports, adding that in so doing, they are promoting developmental journalism.
He condemned the spate of attacks and intimidation of journalists, who are often on their legitimate duties, by some security agencies of the government, pointing out that the trend is not in the best interest of society, as according to him, no society can develop without an effective media structure.
According to him, “our politicians should know that members of the press, known as the fourth estate of the realm, are also critical stakeholders in the security system. So, the use of security operatives to suppress them even amounts to sabotage in their efforts to achieve results.”
