The Nigerian Guild of Editors has encouraged governments at all levels to increase efforts in dealing with the increasing security problems across the country.
This is contained in a communique issued and signed by the NGE President, Mr Eze Anaba, and the General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, after the forum’s Standing Committee Meeting held in Enugu, over the weekend, a copy of which was made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday.
The guild described the recent release of students of LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as a good development.
“The Guild congratulated the Office of the National Security Adviser, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State and security agencies for their roles in securing the release of the students – after three weeks in the kidnappers’ captivity,’’ the statement read.
The guild also called on the Federal Government to speak out on the Editor of FirstNews Newspaper, Segun Olatunji, who was abducted from his Lagos home by some men in military uniform.
It added, ‘’The Guild, which demanded the immediate release of the editor, said that any publication by the media if believed or suspected to be false, should be interrogated and tested through the legal process.
‘’The editors condemned how the editor was abducted, saying such action had no place in a democracy, especially under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government, which has consistently promised to be guided by the rule of law in all his actions, policies and programmes.
‘’The media/journalists must be allowed to continue to operate in an atmosphere conducive to the performance of their constitutional duty of holding government accountable to the people.
‘’Government or security agencies must not be perceived to be doing anything to the contrary, or attempting to stifle the media under a democratic government.”
The guild described the recent ambush and killing of 17 military personnel in the Okuama community, in Delta State, and the aftermath of the alleged military’s revenge as disheartening.
It called on the Federal Government to dig deep into the killing of soldiers in Okuama, and unravel the ‘’real circumstances’’ in which the incident and its aftermath occurred, with a view to bringing those indicted to book and preventing a recurrence.
While noting the rising cost of living in the country, which saw Nigeria’s headline inflation rate increase from 29.90 per cent in January to 31.70 per cent in February, the editors attributed the current harsh economic space to the worsening security situation, removal of subsidy on petrol, and the devaluation of the Naira, following the unifying of exchange rates.
The communique added, ‘’The Guild observed measures by the Central Bank of Nigeria to reverse the falling value of the Naira, and urged it to ensure the results are long-term and not temporary.
‘’The professional body also acknowledged initiatives by the government at various levels to reduce the hardship in the country – through various palliatives and intervention schemes.
The person stated that such actions should not only help in the short-term. They hope that government policies will eventually make life easier for the people.
The organization praised the mass media for their resilience in tough economic times. They encouraged journalists to continue to fulfill their duties with professionalism.
In the midst of the country’s security challenges and difficult economic situation, the Guild advised journalists to be cautious and not compromise on truthfulness in their reporting.
The media should keep fulfilling their duties with a sense of patriotism and be careful not to unintentionally encourage terrorists or bandits in their reporting, the editors also said.
