BREAKING NEWS, Media
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The Nigerian Guild of Editors urges Nigerians to support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in its fight against terrorism and corruption
THE Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for the steps taken so far to tackle terrorism and urged Nigerians not to politicise or ethnicise the ongoing war against Boko Haram insurgency. Rather the Guild advised that all hands should be on the deck “to ensure that every part of country is secure.”
In the same vein, the NGE also voiced out its support for government’s war against corruption, saying no effort should spared in eradicating the corruption monster, which has become the bane of the Nigeria’s development. However, the editors cautioned the Buhari administration not to be selective in its fight against those perceived or found to be corrupt.
All these were contained in the communiqué issued by the NGE after the end of its 11th Annual All Nigerian Editors Conference, ANEC, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, from Wednesday, August 26 to Saturday, August 30.
The 16-point communiqué declared that the media would remain steadfast in objective reportage of events in the country as well as be facilitators and agents of the positive change that Nigerians desire. The NGE, therefore, urged all Nigerians to unite and support efforts of the current government to revive the nation’s economy. “There must be a conscious effort to re-orient Nigerians to embrace values that would bring about the desired change,” the communiqués said.
Similarly, the Guild urged Nigerians to unite “to build a nation that is prosperous and secure, irrespective of political, ethnic and religious differences.”
For effective communication with the masses, the NGE called on government at all levels to always carry the mass media along in planning and execution of their critical developmental policies and programmes.
The Guild used the occasion to appeal to media owners to ensure regular payment of salaries and also provide improved working conditions commensurate with the efforts of their staff. This, it said would encourage media practitioners to play their role to set agenda and make “conscious effort to raise the level and quality of public debate by bringing issues of national interest to the fore.”
Besides, it said: “Editors must do more to bring about the change Nigerians are yearning for by playing the watchdog role assigned them by Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution.”
In the same vein, the NGE urged editors to strive continually to improve their skills and acquire new skills that would prepare them for life outside the editorial chair. The Editors commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing two past presidents of the Guild, Femi Adesina and Mallam Garba Shehu as special adviser and senior special assistant, Media and Publicity, respectively.
After a tour of projects in the state, members of the NGE acknowledged the restoration efforts of Governor Seriake Dickson government and commended it and good people of Bayelsa State for their hospitality and efforts towards the successful hosting of the 11th ANEC.
The Conference, attended by about 300 Editors drawn from the print, electronic and online media across the country, featured presentation of papers from scholars and giants in the media industry.
Prominent among the participants are Etannibi Alemika, a professor of sociology, University of Jos who delivered a paper titled: “The Change we need: Role of the Editor;” Barclays Ayakoroma, executive secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation, Abuja, spoke on National Re-orientation as a Catalyst for Change while Gbenga Adefaye, editor-in-chief of Vanguard Newspapers, delivered a paper on “When the Editors’ Status Changes.”
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, special guest of honour was represented by Folashade Yemi-Esan, permanent secretary, federal ministry of Information, in his remarks tasked the media to support the change agenda of the government of President Buhari.
Governor Dickson, the chief host, and John Momoh, chairman/chief executive of Channels Television, who chaired the opening ceremony of the conference in their remarks identified the critical roles of the media in nation building and urged members of the Guild to do more in the interest of the country.
— Aug 31, 2015 @ 16:40 GMT
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