Journalists Want More Roles In Governance

Journalists in the Rivers
State have  called on government at all levels to carry them along in the formulation and implementation of  policies and programmes in order to ensure sustainable   development.
The call, which was made at the event to mark the 2016 World Press Freedom Day Celebration, organised by the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists  (NUJ) was part of an 11 point communiqué  issued at the end of the event.
According to the journalist, “Government should  factor the media into democracy to enhance  policies and programmes that would bring about  sustainable  development in the society.
“This is because every organic society is made up of sub systems that function within it, and a defect in one subsystem  in adventently impairs the entire  system”, they said.
They also indentified  journalists as being endangered, hence the need to protect them in the  course of their  practice.
“The NUJ strongly appeals to the civil  populace not to attack journalists performing their lawful duties in any forum”.
It further noted that it would be disastrous for press freedom if, as conveyors of information, journalists would have access to information.        In order to meet the expectation of the society, the communiqué also called  on journalists to carry out proper investigation “by diligently and methodically searching for underlying currents that portend  danger so that by providing timely warnings, public policy can be effectively mobilized  to guarantee the  well-being  of the citizenry, bearing  in mind that the press is a trustee of the public.

Sogbeba Dokubo