BEVERLY HILLS, May 02, (THEWILL) – Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called on Nigerian media practitioners to shun desk journalism and engage in qualitative investigative journalism with the intent of exposing corruption in the system.
Dogara gave the charge on Monday via a statement to commemorate the 2016 World Press Freedom and also admonished the media to adhere strictly to the ethics of journalism so as to be competitive globally.
He praised the Nigerian press for the role it played in the struggle for and enthronement of democracy, and the need to promote national unity among all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic, region or tribe.
“It is important that you continue to fight for a society where free, empowered citizens can contribute in a democracy. That is what democracy is all about, freedom to pursue happiness. When that is done, we should be able to deliver on the promise of change, which will lift Nigeria to a new pedestal,” he said.
“This year’s anniversary is coming five years after we passed into law the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), which placed Nigeria as one of the leading nations that have adopted the law,” the speaker said.
While asserting the commitment of the eight Assembly towards promoting freedom of the press as one of the cardinal pillars of free society, Dogara, however emphasised the need for Nigerian press to put patriotism first in the discharge of their responsibilities in order to constantly place Nigeria in a positive light among the comity of nations.
He urged media practitioners across the country to exercise such freedom with responsibility so as not to endanger the public good.
Story by David Oputah
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