Nigeria: Journalists Need Commendation - NUJ President [interview]

Garba Mohammed is the National President of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), in this interview with SNR CORRESPONDENT, Emma Maduabuchi, he reels out measures the union is putting in place for the enhancement of the practice of journalism in the country. Excerpts:

 

There are complaints on the conduct of journalists at events coverage. What would be your reaction to this?

Yes, if some people are worried and they are complaining, we are also worried about that. But, what we are doing is that we have formed committees. We have inaugurated one in Abuja here, and another one in Kano. We are coming to Lagos to also inaugurate a similar committee. And one of the mandates of those committees is to check and flush out quacks that have been parading themselves as journalists.

 

What is the second mandate?

Secondly, they are also to screen journalists, especially to ensure that whoever is there is a genuine journalist, even if he is not a member of the NUJ, but at least they would have a verifiable medium of communication. We have designed a form where everybody will write his name, his telephone number, the name of his editor and his medium of communication. So, we shall give these papers to the state councils, in case there is any assignment that comes through, they would be able to crosscheck. The state council will cause every member to adhere to this procedure. I think that will help address this issue of how journalists behave at events.

 

What about brown envelopes?

Yes, one thing I must add, however, is that most of the times, most of those people who are said to collect brown envelopes are not truly journalists. Even if they have a medium they write for, you will come to understand that such publications are not organised and does not maintain the required high standard.

 

One major discussion you will find in the newsrooms today is that of welfare of journalists. With the kind of serious and sensitive work journalists do, they believe they are poorly paid. What is your reaction to that?

Yes, we have also come to realise that apart from the issue of salaries, there are other welfare packages that are not getting to journalists. We know that some newspapers are not paying salaries regularly. A lot of media organisations are involved in it, especially the print and privately owned media. So, part of the work of other committees we have formed is to negotiate and ensure regular payment of salaries, negotiate condition of service to working journalists, and to ensure the application of insurance in all the media organisations. Those committees were also inaugurated in Kaduna, Kano and Abuja. And we are coming to Lagos to inaugurate similar committee, God's willing, by next week.

 

Do you think journalists in the country have done well to support the fight against corruption in Nigeria?

I think journalists in this country have been in the forefront of highlighting and supporting any given government policy or programme. The issue of corruption, I think, is a very serious issue that journalists have continued to hammer on. Journalists have continued to show the negative effects of corruption in the country, especially in terms of our developmental plans, and of course other areas in which we need to improve upon. The Nigerian journalists have been doing well, even by exposing corruption in most organisations and agencies of government. So, I think, we have to commend the Nigerian journalists for job well done.

 

How about Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill?

We have continued to work to make sure that those in government will see the reason for that bill. We paid a courtesy call to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, March 17, and we made him to understand that the Freedom of Information Bill is not a bill for journalists. We told him that it is for democracy; that it is for Nigeria, and for development and good governance. We told him that it entails a situation where a journalist or an individual will have access to information. And I think that for us to protect our democracy; for us to ensure that democracy is sustained there is need for the National Assembly to pass the Freedom of Information Bill.

 

Are you positive they will pass the bill?

We are doing everything possible to sensitise our members and members of the National Assembly to see reasons why the Freedom of Information Bill should be passed to law. Other countries in Africa that are not as developed as Nigeria, politically, economically and otherwise, have passed this similar bill to law. So, there is no reason Nigeria's National Assembly, in a true democratic attitude, should not pass the bill. Believe me, it is very important; we have highlighted that on several occasions, and will continue to do that.

 

How do you see journalism in Nigeria in the coming years?

I think that with the way things are going, and the level of sensitisation going on, and the fact that all the stakeholders in the journalism profession like the Guild of Editors, the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the NUJ believe there is need for us to sanitise our profession. We are also believed in the need for us to have a high standard journalism practice in Nigeria. And, I think, with this belief among all the stakeholders, the future of journalism is going to be very bright in Nigeria in future.

 

What gives you this confidence?

Going by the number of newspapers and magazines, and radio and television stations available, and the new ones coming on board, we still believe that a lot of talented journalists that will come into the profession. I am convinced that as we are working for regular salary payment, and the introduction of insurance scheme for journalism professionals, that the future is bright for the profession in the country.

 

- March 22, 2010 by Emma Maduabuchi

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Source:  allafrica.com/stories/201003230470.html (accessed on 23.03.10)