Press Freedom: FCTA Urges Media To Deepen Democracy

Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has called on media practitioners not to relent in actively discharging their essential role in deepening Nigeria’s democracy, adding that their responsibility is to uphold democracy, which is why the media is called the fourth estate of the realm.

The FCT minister’s director of press, Anthony Ogunleye, who gave this charge, during a media chat on the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, in Abuja, said journalists have aided the development of the territory.

Ogunleye commended media practitioners for always upholding the tenet of democracy, keeping the government on its toes, and carrying out the fundamental task of journalism, which is to entertain, educate and inform members of the society.

He said the FCTA led by Malam Muhammad Bello, over the last seven and a half years, has worked very closely with members of the press, and together, they have been able to achieve as much as they did towards developing the FCT.

Press freedom, according to him, is held very high in Nigeria, since the return of democracy in 1999, adding that there has been tremendous freedom of the press, without which democracy cannot thrive. “We do not hear of journalists being incarcerated or killed, molested, harassed, or prevented from doing their job.

“Without journalists going out to do their work, to gather facts about issues concerning the society, and to also give the government the tools to make the right decision; and members of the public the knowledge they need to continue to build their society, nothing can work.

“I would like to use the opportunity to congratulate journalists in the FCT and commend them for the great work they are doing, not just here in the FCT, but across the country.

“I urge them to continue to do their job. And for those here in the FCTA, as we look forward to welcoming the new FCT Administration after May 29, I will ask them to continue to cooperate with us, work together and let us build the FCT of our collective dreams,” he said.