Abbas Hails NUJ At 70, Seeks Better Welfare For Journalists

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has congratulated journalists on the 70th anniversary of their umbrella body, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), saying the organisation had continued to stand the test of time.

Abbas, in a congratulatory message yesterday, called for better welfare for Nigerian journalists and urged them to continue to train and retrain to be more ethical and development -oriented.

He added that with the new trends in information and communication technology (ICT), journalists must continue to learn, unlearn and relearn on their job.

The speaker commended Nigerian journalists for their immeasurable contributions to the country’s democracy and development, while holding the government and its officials accountable.

He noted that the media is called the fourth estate of the realm because its practitioners are critical stakeholders in society, and had enormous power and influence on the people. Abbas expressed belief that better journalists make a better society, noting their watch-dog role in the polity.

He disclosed the readiness of the House to welcome legislation that seek to promote the sanctity of journalism and enhance the capacity of journalists and media professionals as a whole.