2015: Garba Canvasses for Journalists’ Safety

Mohammed Garba, President, Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, has called for adequate security for journalists.

He said this was necessary in order for journalists to be able to carry out their constitutional role effectively during the 2015 general elections.

Garba, made the call on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 in Abuja during the 45th meeting of the National Council on Information in Abuja.

The NUJ President who expressed concern over usual assaults on journalists by security personnel and political thugs during elections, added that some journalists were intimidated and their equipment vandalized during the last gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

“As we talk about the 2015 general elections, we must ensure that journalists who cover the elections are secured,’’ Garba said while adding that the union recently trained no fewer than 100 journalists on safety measures during the 2015 elections.

He added that, “NUJ had also presented Code of Ethics to INEC on the upcoming 2015 elections and worked on safety codes for journalists in the coverage of the 2015 elections.”

While expressing regrets over the recent ruling of a Lagos High Court that the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) should be domesticated by states before it could take effect in the states.

Garba, described the ruling as a setback for the yearnings of Nigerians to hold their leaders accountable for their actions.

He however said that the union was already collaborating with state governments with a view to domesticating the Act at the state level.