NUJ and journalism practice

Members of NUJ body in a board meeting in Lagos

NUJ and journalism practice

commentary

Benedicta Bassey, Lagos

In a bid to enhance the practice of journalism in nigeria, the Nigerian Union of Journalism was established and inagurated by a six-man executive in Lagos.

The Nigerian union of Journalists which emerged in March 15, 1955 at st. Paul school, formed the core of a call for an independent Nigeria via the power of the pen.

It also marked the zenith of years of silent revolution for the actualization of a common forum by some early nationalists.

However, prominent among these nationalists with the fire of patrotism and nationalism bring in them and their writings includes, the first governor general of Nigeria, the late Owelle of Onitsha, the Rt. Hon Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first premier of the defunct western region, the late chief Obafemi Awolowo etc. are media practitioners in the dream of establishing a common forum for nigeria journalists.

In same vein, the union since inception had 15 presidents with Mr. Mobolaji Odunewu(1955-1960) as the first president with comrade Muhammed Garba the current national president.

Nevertheless, the union has a training wing, the international institute of journalism in Abuja, estalished for the realisation of its vision to train and retrain its cadre and to prepare them for absolute productivity in the media and aid national development.

Moreso, the body through its guiding principles and ethics had made the media to experience tremendious growth with high esteem in the country.

Furthermore, coupled with the media primary function to inform, entertain and educate, NUJ has emerged a professional media organisation aiming to connect journalists nationwide with the information and opportunities they need to advance professionally and improve media in Nigeria. Presently, NUJ membership are above 25,000 persons

Notwithstanding, the body which is operating under the right given to it by the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in chapter 11 subsection 22 states that “the press radio/television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundermental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the governing to the people”

Mission of the council

To safeguard the freedom of the press and the freedom of journalists to engage in legitimate professional activities;

To collect, preserve and publish such stastitical and other information as may be usefu for professional purpose;

To encourage the participation of members in decision making processes in the union and at their places of work in particular and the society in general;

To protect and advcance the socio-economic interests of the society and such other objectives as are lawful and set consistent with the spirit and practice of journalism;

To ensure adequate training and education of members;

To negotiate conditions of service and establish welfare statement of members;

To ensure strict adherence to the union of code of ethics as approved by the NEC or the national or special national conference.

To collaborate with organisation with similar objectives to defend the rights of nigeria citizen and society at large.

Without a doubt, the fourth estate of the realm entails a high degree of public trust, to earn and maintain this trust, it is morally imperative for every journalist to observe the highest professional and ethical standard.

Nigeria Model for journalism practice

For any media organisation to be able to achieve maximum excellence in their reporatorial, it must have a guiding principles and code of ethics that guide the operations and activities of journalists.

The ethics includes; journalist must maintain editorial independence, accuracy and fairness in reporting, privacy, privilege/ non-disclosure, decency, shun discrimination, reward and gratification, voilence, must hide the identity of children and minor, have access to information, maintian public interest, social responsibility, aviod plagiarism, copyright, and maintain press freedom and responsibility.

These are timeless guide for the journalists to which they must abide, regardless of the medium they are operating on.

However, the media on its part must aspire and work hard to stand firm and true in defence, reportage and promotion of journalism practice, values and ideas if it must continue to earn the esteem and respect of nigerians and the world at large.

‘Global meltdown drives 50 million Nigerians into extreme poverty'

 

An economic crisis map

‘Global meltdown drives 50 million Nigerians into extreme poverty'

Benedicta Bassey

The Dean, College of Business and Management Studies, Igbinedon University, Professor Samuel Igbatayo, has said the global economy crisis remains the greatest challenge to Nigerian economy. He added that it has crippled the nation’s growth and has driven about 50 million people into extreme poverty.

The Associate Professor of Economics, who quoted the World Bank estimates, said the global economic crisis had place Nigeria in a perpetual struggle to remain on the path of stability and growth, particularly in the last three decades.

Igbatayo spoke at the 3rd Annual Conference of the Institute of Economists of Nigeria, an event with the theme “Challenges of sustainable growth in an era of global economics crisis,” held in Lagos State.

He said the nation’s economy was hit by the crisis as global consumption of crude oil declined in 2008, reducing government revenue and foreign exchange earnings. He however said while the economy was on the path to sustainable growth, total recovery was yet to be seen across all sectors, especially when there was an urgent need for social and economic development.

The professor further explained that the crisis had also undermined the country’s financial market, which reduced the prices of shares by more than 50 per cent in 2009 and unleashed stocks of the banking sector in the capital market, as a result.

Extreme poverty effect in the country.

He said, “The global crisis has unleashed a wave of economic and social consequences. Millions of people all over the world have lost their jobs, income, life savings and their homes.”

He added that the crisis had affected the Nigerian economy through transmission channels, as the nation’s crude oil export and the capital market had witnessed severe shocks that adversely affected its macro-economic stability.

 The economic expert however called for policies aimed at fostering structural transformation of the Nigerian economy to fast track economic diversification. He added that such policies should embrace international best practices, anchored on capital adequacy for financial institutions, coordination of financial market regulations, and strict guidelines associated with credit management.

Igbatayo further said the financial downturn brought, in its wake, a near collapse of the banking sector in several industrial economies; severe decline in global trade, investment and commerce; and rising unemployment and poverty incidence around the world.

In his submission, the INEN Chairman, Mr. James Katugwa, said the increasingly integrated global economic crisis had severely limited the ability of individual nations to implement domestic policies that could influence the adverse global macroeconomics trends.

He said, “The ongoing economic and financial market crises have also demonstrated that the emerging economies and their poorest and most deprived citizens are extremely vulnerable to such market turbulences.”

He added that the poor and underprivileged had faced the brunt of the economic stagnation, which he said had affected the nation’s growth