Speaker congratulates NUJ at 70, seeks better welfare for journalists
By Tom Okpe
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Tajudeen Abbas, has congratulated journalists on the 70th anniversary of their umbrella body, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, saying the organisation has continued to stand the test of time.
Abbas, in a congratulatory message issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, on Saturday, also called for better welfare for Nigerian journalists.
He urged journalists to continue, training and retrain themselves to be more ethical and development-oriented, adding that, “with the new trends in information and communication technology, ICT, journalists must continue to learn, unlearn, and relearn on their job.”
The Speaker commended the Nigerian journalists for their immeasurable contributions to the country’s democracy and development, while holding the Government and its officials accountable.
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He said: “The media is called the fourth estate of the realm because its practitioners are critical stakeholders in the society, who have enormous power and influence on the people.”
The Speaker, further expressed his belief that better journalists will make a better society, noting their watch-dog role in the polity.
He, therefore, disclosed the readiness of the House to welcome legislation that seek to promote sanctity of journalism and enhance the capacity of journalists and media professionals as a whole.
