NUJ ADOPTS A 12 POINT RESOLUTIONS AS A PANACEA TO THE MYRIAD OF SECURITY, POLITICAL AND ETHNO RELIGIOUS CRISES FACING THE COUNTRY.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, its affiliates, key media and Civil Society Organizations, at its 3^rd National Media Conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with the theme “The Media, Insecurity and National Unity” from June 6 to 8, 2021, adopted a twelve-point resolutions as a panacea to the myriad of security, political and ethno religious crises facing the country.

Taking into cognizance that the primary responsibility of government is to protect lives and property of citizens, against the backdrop of prevailing situation that government is overwhelmed and unable to effectively carry out this onerous responsibility, the conference urges citizens to assist in community mobilization as a way of addressing insecurity and notes that it will be disastrous to allow citizens to lose confidence in the ability of government to deal with the situation.

On the role of Journalists with regard to their core mandate of informing, educating and holding government and leaders accountable, conference notes that the media has played an active role in their propagation and proliferation by promoting their different names and titles and serving as a vehicle for their messages.

 It however notes that more is required of practitioners as watch dogs of the society particularly, at this trying period in which a balanced reportage is more than ever before desired.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists takes note of the responsibility of the State to guarantee safety of lives and property to protect the economy and economic resources area, critical infrastructure, environment, including forest reserves and national assets.

The Government it says should enforce security policies carry stakeholders at all levels of governance along and ensure good governance.

The Media should mediate with its distinct role of being between the governed and the rulers, particularly in situation of existential threats, the Union urges its members to prioritise mediation in the prevailing tension that pervades all geo-political zones and the threats to Nigeria’s unity.

As for the controversy generated by the suspension of the micro-blogging platform Twitter, the Union notes the wide spread use of its resourcefulness in promoting dialogue, individual expression and comment, the Union therefore solicits for caution from all sides.

In view of the challenges impacting on press freedom, freedom of expression, the Union promised to establish a Special Press Freedom Monitoring and Defence Committee.

The conference stresses the need for the adherence to the rights of the people to freely express themselves and comment on the affairs of state and conduct of government as an intrinsic part of democracy that demands accountability of rulers and public officers to the citizenry.

The conference notes that a factor we cannot ignore is the fact that Nigeria is a country that fought  a civil war, those who were active players in the war from children that were born after the war to those who experienced the war, have not forgotten a closure.

Participants commend Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state for hosting the Conference and thank the people of the State for their warm reception.