The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), zone B has commended the painstaking efforts of reporters in various media outfits in the country in ensuring that information is adequately disseminated to all and sundry. The Union also applauded members for being served faithfully as the bridge between the government and the governed.
Vice-President of the NUJ, South-West zone B, Comrade Ronke Samo, made the remarks in a statemenet made available to newsmen on Wednesday to herald this year’s celebration of the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD).
The statememt reads in part: “On this important day of the celebration of the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), l commend comrades in the struggle and my dear colleagues who have tirelessly been serving faithfully as the fourth estate of the realm and bridging the gap between the government and the governned.
The WPFD was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 in New York as a day set aside for Reporters to associate, identify and celebrate media workers all over the World.
Media workers in both the print and electronics have been subject of attacks, harassment, intimidation, oppression and even murder in some cases all over the world.
“The UN is conscious of the nature of the hazardous nature of the job of media workers as the bridge between the government and the governed, mouthpiece of the downtrodden and the hope of the hopeless.
As such, May 3rd of every year was set aside to recognise these painstaking efforts and solidiarise with media workers as a way of promoting their chosen profession.
“The Nigeria media workers have been very diligent, committed and dedicated to the patriotic cause of serving as the fourth estate of the realm and on this day, they deserve the accolades, honour and garlands as ‘soldiers’ of the people.
“As a way of further celebrating ourselves, we have organized a lecture to honour this day with the theme, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AS A DRIVER FOR ALL OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS .
With the lecture, we hope to further enlighten all stakeholders that true freedom of the press will gurrantee continued protection of the fundermental human rights of all citizens and create a better society for all.
“While inviting all and sundry to grace the August ocassion, l use this medium to celebrate and encourage my colleagues that we should not relent but forge ahead as there ia surely light at the end of the tunnel in our legitimate pursuit for true freedom of the press in Nigeria.
“We also use this medium to urge media enterprenuers, employers and the government to prioritize better welfare packages, renumeration and other incentives to work for media workers in Nigeria as this will surely motivate our colleagues for more effecient, effective and robust services to our dear country.