2026 Press Week: NUJ President Urges Urgent Action On Journalists’ Welfare, Press Freedom

National president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahya, has called for renewed commitment to journalists’ welfare, protection and ethical standards.

He said the 2026 Press Week must be a period of reflection and action rather than mere ceremony.

Speaking during the NUJ FCT Council Press Week lecture, Yahya warned that rapid changes in the media landscape — driven by digital communications, artificial intelligence and the rise of citizen journalism — have increased the threat of misinformation and placed new pressures on reporters. He also highlighted persistent risks including physical attacks, harassment, intimidation, poor pay, job insecurity and unsafe working conditions.

“Press Week is not merely a ceremonial event. It is a period of introspection, recommitment, and renewed advocacy for ethical journalism, press freedom, national development, and the welfare of media professionals across Nigeria,” he said.

Yahya praised Nigerian journalists for their resilience and commitment to truth and public accountability, describing the profession as “custodians of democracy” and warning that “without a vibrant and independent press, democracy itself becomes vulnerable.”

He outlined the NUJ’s priorities, including advocacy for better welfare and working conditions, insurance protection, prompt payment of salaries and greater institutional support for media practitioners. The union is engaging government bodies, media owners, development partners and other stakeholders to secure those gains, he said.

Emphasising capacity-building, Yahya urged journalists to be adaptable, technology-savvy, fact-oriented, and ethically grounded. He pledged NUJ support for initiatives that strengthen fact‑checking, digital literacy and investigative reporting, and appealed to reporters to resist sensationalism, political manipulation and ethnic bias.

The NUJ president also appealed to the government at all levels to respect press freedom and protect democratic values. He called on security agencies to safeguard journalists as they perform lawful duties. “Democracy flourishes where the press operates freely without intimidation or fear,” he said.

In closing, Yahya urged members to recommit to unity, mentorship, and the preservation of the profession’s dignity, and paid tribute to veteran journalists whose sacrifices have shaped contemporary practice. He asked the media to promote peace, national unity and issue‑based reporting as Nigeria navigates complex political, social and economic transitions.

He concluded by urging Press Week participants to use the platform to renew collaboration between the media, government and civil society in pursuit of a more just, peaceful and prosperous nation.