Journalist must be free to obtain and disseminate information – UN Ambassador to Nigeria
By Ibrahim M. Baba
Governments at all levels have been enjoined to ensure free access to information for Journalists and other media workers in order to have a functional democracy in the country.
The UN Ambassador to Nigeria Mary Beth Leornered made the call at a public lecture to mark this year’s World Press Free Freedom Day, held virtually on Zoom platform, with Participants drawn from Kano, Bauchi, Borno and Abuja.
The UN Ambassador cautioned governments on the need to carry Journalists along, by providing adequate interpretation of policies and programmes so as to enable Journalists disseminate accurate information to the people.
Mary Beth Leornered who described the work of Journalists all over the world as fundamental to sustainable democracy, urged members of the pen profession to renew their commitments to freedom of information in order to discharge their responsibility effectively.
In his remark, the National President Nigeria Union of Journalists Mr. Christ Isuguzo appreciated the efforts of Nigerian Journalists for their resilience and doggedness to bring out information to the general public despite numerous challenges of harassment, intimidation and torture.
He said, this year’s Press Freedom Celebration is unique, as Journalists in Nigeria are the most hit both by the Covid 19 pandemic and alot of infringements on the rights to free access to information, resulting to the death of many Journalists across the country.
The NUJ President emphasized that Journalists must be protected at all times in order to discharge their constitutional responsibility of keeping governments accountable to the people.
He therefore called on authorities and law enforcement agencies to desist from engaging in any act that may result in restrictions for Journalists to access information so as to make public informed about the activities of the government.
With this year’s theme “Information as a public good”, the President enjoined the public to always take information as their own commodity, and support Journalists by rising against any attempt by anybody or group to intimidate Journalists in their quest to look for information.
He cautioned Journalists on the need to be proactive and bring accurate information to press on time, in order not to give room for dissemination of fake news, which destroys the nation’s development.
