VP Shettima To Journalists: President Tinubu Will Remain Your Ally, Will Preserve Your Rights

Pledges to table NUJ’s demands of protection, review of libel laws, others before the president 

 

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has assured the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains an ally of the media, and is committed to protecting and advancing the journalism profession in the country.

 

In a statement signed by Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President) Stanley Nkwocha, said the Vice President recalled that President Tinubu has long been supportive of the media and would not deviate from his consistent track record of upholding the integrity of the journalism profession in Nigeria.

 

Senator Shettima gave the assurance on Wednesday when he hosted a delegation of the NUJ leadership at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

 

The Vice President however noted that the government and citizens alike expect a lot from the media, emphasizing that the journalism profession stands almost at par with the judiciary.

According to him, journalists are expected to hold public officials accountable and adjudicate on issues of governance.

 “In President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you have a friend, an ally, and a proprietor who has been kind to the Nigerian media over the years.

"I want to assure you that this administration will do its best to promote, project, and preserve the interests of the journalism profession. You are the life wire of the nation — we can’t afford to muzzle you,” the Vice President said.

Describing the media as the conscience of the nation, Senator Shettima stressed that authorities cannot afford to intimidate journalists, as they are indispensable to the survival of democracy in the country.

“Past generations of Nigerian leaders — from Herbert Macaulay to Nnamdi Azikiwe and even Obafemi Awolowo — were first journalists before they became political leaders,” the Vice President recalled.

VP Shettima acknowledged the challenges facing the media industry, noting that several media organizations in Nigeria struggle to pay staff salaries and emoluments.

He appealed to the NUJ to remain hopeful, promising that President Tinubu would continue to support the Union.

“Be rest assured that the President will render his support to your organization. We cannot afford to allow the journalism profession to die,” he added.

Shettima further noted that President Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidies was made in the national interest, just as he reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to repositioning the Nigerian economy for the benefit of all citizens.

Earlier, the National President NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, drew the Vice President’s attention to some critical issues confronting journalists in the course of doing their job, urging him to use his office “to take a firm stance in defending press freedom, and ensuring that journalists are not punished for doing their constitutional duty.”

He also urged the government “to initiate a comprehensive review of colonial-era laws such as sections of the Criminal and Penal Codes that continue to criminalize journalism,” maintaining that “libel should be decriminalized.”

 

Other demands made by the NUJ President include facilitation of a national safety protocol for journalists, in collaboration with security agencies, to ensure that no reporter is harmed for simply reporting the news.

 

He also called for government’s partnership with the media to initiate a media support framework, including training grants, soft loans, tax relief, and a targeted bailout for critical media institutions.

 

The NUJ also sought partnerships with TETFUND, universities, and international media institutes to uplift training standards across the profession, as well as the creation of a Permanent Government- Media Liaison Platform under the office of the Vice President to foster regular engagement, clarify national policies, and prevent the vacuum breeding misinformation.

 

Abdullahi pledged the support of the Nigerian press for the President Tinubu's development agenda, noting however that the press will always maintain the right to speak truth to power for the survival of democracy.

 

“We are institutional partners and would not be drowned in the false narratives that the media must be antagonistic to government. Same way we call out government when we feel that certain issues are not clearly given the needed consideration, we also would be ready to applaud government when things have been done right,” he added.

 

He commended the administration of President Tinubu over what he described as tangible efforts and firm support in key areas of national development, despite the economic headwinds facing Nigeria, just like many other nations.

 

Abdullahi acknowledged that in less than three years, the administration has undertaken bold reforms targeted at stabilizing the nation’s economy.

Ya Kamata A Yi Wa Ruqayya Aliyu Jibia Adalci - Nasir Salisu Zango

Daga Nasir Salisu Zango 

Ruqayya Aliyu Jibia’yar jarida ce dake wakiltar gidan talabijin na Tambarin Hausa a jihar Katsina,kuma a kwanakin nan ta samu sabani da ‘yansandan jihar Katsina bayan da ta wallafa bidiyo a shafin ta na TikTok wanda a ciki ta bayyana rashin da cewar abin da ‘yansanda keyi na sakin bidiyon wadanda ake zargi da laifi musamman yadda ake nuna fuskokin su.

Amma abin takaici bayan sakin bidiyon sai Ruqayya tayi kukan cewar, ‘yansandan sun ci zarafin ta har ma an kama ta an fasa mata waya an kuma kai ta gaban sarkin Katsina wanda acan ma tace an yi tayi mata barazana. Kamar yadda ta bayyana.

Na dai tuntubi mai magana da yawun rundunar‘yansandan jihar Karsina CSP Gambo Isa wanda yace min Abin da Ruqayya take musu akan aikin su bai dace ba.

Babban abin takaicin shine a daidai lokacin da Ruqayya ke cikin firgici da barazana sai kuma muka ga gidan talabijin din da take wa aiki sun saki takardar dake cewar Ruqayya ba ma’aikaciyar su bace. Kome suke tsoro oho.

Kamar yadda kuke gani dai ga katin shaidar aiki na Ruqayya da takardar daukar ta aiki, bayan haka ma akwai shaidar biyan ta albashi da suke,kaga kenan tsakanin gidan talabijin din da Ruqayya Waye ya zukala karya?

Idan har Ruqayya tayi gaskiya to abu ne me sauki ta iya neman hakkin ta a gaban kotu.

Yanzu haka Ruqayya tace ta buya saboda firgici da take ciki,anan ina kira ga kungiyoyin kare hakkin dan adam da kungiyar CPJ me kare hakkin’yan jaridu da sauran masu fafutuka musamman lauyoyin kare hakkin marasa galihu domin kawowa Ruqayya dauki.

Shin akwai laifi a cikin bayanan da Ruqayya ta wallafa wanda har yasa ‘yansanda ke cigaba da neman ta? Yakamata a je kotu a tantance.