By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The two-day workshop to mark the 2022 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists held in Abuja ended on Wednesday with a call on the federal, state governments and relevant agencies to ensure the safety and security of journalists in Nigeria especially during the 2023 general elections.
The workshop with the theme: “Policy Dialogue on Media, Civil Society and Violence-free Election in Nigeria” which was organised by the Ministry of Justice; Managing Conflicts in Nigeria (MCN) programme of the European Union supervised by the British Council and Kano State Government, had the crème de la crème of the academia, legal luminaries and top federal government functionaries in attendance either as speakers or rapporteurs.
In a communique issued at the end of the the workshop at Treasures Suites and Conferences in Abuja, journalists who attended the event called on governments at the federal and states to implore on relevant agencies to protect journalists doing their work.
The attendees mainly drawn from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Press Corps and Judicial Correspondents decried the incessant harassment and outright killing of journalists in the line of duty.
They therefore demanded for the end of all manners of impunity for crimes against journalists, pointing out that the media being one of the critical stakeholders in the election management deserves to be protected by the agents of governments to discharge its duties.
Earlier in the day, Professor Tonnie Iredia, former Director General of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in his paper titled: “News Reporting, Conflict and Democratic Transition in Nigeria”, enumerated various ways of news gathering and challenges journalists face in the course of performing their duties.
He agreed that there are many landmines for journalists but encouraged them to be professional at all times inspite of the obvious bottlenecks.
Also, veteran journalist and legal practitioner, Samuel Peter Kargbo, SAN of Jackson, Kargbo & Associates, in his paper titled: “Media, Civil Society, Electoral Offences and Election Tribunal in Nigeria”,took the journalists through the role of the media and Election Tribunals in Nigeria.
He reminded journalists of the need to remain the watchdog of the society hence they cannot compromise in the discharge of their duties.
In his Vote of Thanks, Dr. Umar
Jibrilu Gwandu who is the Special Adviser, Media, to the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, thanked the Minister; European Union through Managing Conflicts in Nigeria of British Council and Kano state government for putting the event together.
He also heaped praises on the Resource Persons led by Professor Umaru Pate, Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe state; Professor Yemi Akinseye-George and Tony Ojukwu, SAN, Executive Secretary of Nigerian Human Rights Commission .
