The birth of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), under
a six-man inaugural Executive Council, that beautiful day at
the premises of St. Paul's School, Breadfruit Street, Lagos,
on March 15, 1955, marked the Zenith of years of a silent
revolution for the actualization of a common front by some
early nationalists who formed the core of a call for an
independent Nigeria, via the power of the pen. In earlier
times, such struggle that “Britain must go” had manifested
in the expressed opinions, appearing in the now extinct
newspapers including the Anglo African, The Eagle, Lagos
Weekly Times, The Lagos Chronicles, The Lagos Standard,
Lagos Weekly Record, The African Messenger, The Lagos Daily
News, West African Pilot and others.
For those “been tos” who had tasted Western civilization,
the need for Nigeria to remain free was inevitable, hence
others including one-time Ogun State Governor, the late
Chief Olabisi Onabanjo and one of his successors, Chief
Olusegun Osoba among others, joined the bandwagon of
patriots and early times media practitioners in the oooooyttrtredream of
establishing a common forum for Nigerian Journalists.
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In the homefront, some writers who also, had had a taste of
Western education and in particular in the field of
journalism, were determined to push for the struggle for
commensurate wages. While in Britain in search of the golden
fleece, the likes of Chief Olu Oyesanya then a member of the
London Institute of Journalism had formed the National Union
of Journalists (NUJ), Britain and on his return to Nigeria
in 1954, he joined the colonial government as an Information
Officer, spearheading the formation of the Nigeria Union of
Journalists and became a member of the premier Executive
Council and first Secretary, in 1955.
Towing the policy line of the early leaders of the Union and
in concert with established rules governing all industrial
Unions globally, the NUJ has a working constitution, which
remains the encyclopedia of its rules including the election
of its National leaders.
www.nujnig.org
In essence, one can deduce that NUJ was made possible by patriotic nationalists. Another reason why the body was set was to caution and bring erring journalists to book especially those who go against the code of ethics which include editorial independence, accuracy and fairness,privacy,privilege/non-disclosure, Decency, Discrimination, Reward/Gratification, Violence,Children and Minors, access to information,public interest,social responsibility, playgiarism, copyright,press freedom and responsibility.
MISSION STATEMENT
Journalism entails a high degree of
public trust. To earn and maintain this trust, it is morally
imperative for every journalist and every news medium to
observe the highest professional and ethical standards. In
the exercise of these duties, a journalist should always
have a healthy regard for the public interest. Truth is the
cornerstone of journalism and every journalist should strive
diligently and every journalist should strive to ascertain
the truth of every event.
NEWS STORY
The National Secretariat reviewed with shock and dismay, the
news of the attack on Hir Joseph, the Benue state
Correspondent of Daily Trust Newspapers, on Friday September
11, 2009.
The Journalist was attacked around 10am in Makurdi by armed
gunmen, who injured him in the process and smashed his car.
According to Hir Joseph the gang of six armed thugs left the
residence of Benue State Commissioner for Agriculture and
Natural Resources, Mr. Benjamin Ashaver before carrying out
their dastardly act.
The Union is very disturbed because this re-enactment of our
unsavory experience is a negative development for our
democracy and it is our conviction that Hir Joseph has been
performing his duty in comportment with the constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Professional ethics.
We wish to call on the Benue state Government to investigate
this infringement of fundamental Human Rights of Hir Joseph.
It is our belief that nobody is above the Law, and that if
Hir Joseph has committed any offence, due process of the law
should be followed in seeking redress rather than the
recourse to gangsterism by persons believed to be acting on
the instructions of some officials of the Benue State
Government.
In a democracy, no matter how flawed, it is the duty of
Government to protect the life and property of every
citizen, and especially Journalists and all media workers
like Hir Joseph.
While we commend the Benue State Commissioner of Police who
promised that “the police would not allow those involved in
such disorderly action to compromise the security of the
state,” we equally wish to remind all and sundry that it is
the responsibility of the media to hold government
accountable to the people, and that no matter the threats,
the truth shall always prevail.
Benefits Of Banana
