By Gbenga Akingbule.
National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Comrade Alhassan Yahaya on Friday urged Journalists across the country to redouble their efforts in holding the government and public officials accountable ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Gatekeepers News reports that Yahaya told his colleagues to brace up in promoting accountability among public officials, as stipulated in Section 2 of Nigeria constitution, which emphasizes the importance of the media in holding government accountable.
Yahaya stated this at the Situation Room Advocacy Meeting with members of the NUJ held at the Pearl Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital city.
According to the President of the NUJ , things must take a new and improved approach as the 2027 elections draws near noting that journalusts should work assidoiusly to change the narratives.
“It is high time for all of us as journalists to work collectively to hold the government accountable to the people as spelt out in sectio 2 of the constitution of Nigeria. We must work together to change the narratives,” Comrade Yahaya said.
The NUJ President revealed that the meeting will further enhance the skills and capacity of working journalists, leading to improved performance and professionalism.
YZ Ya’u, Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, emphasized the crucial role of the media and civil society organizations (CSOs) in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
Ya’u noted that the meeting would provide a platform for constructive engagement and collaboration among stakeholders.
“The media provides a very critical link between the citizens and the whole processes of democracy. It is important at this moment in out history that we engage the media to raise some vital questions as we prepare for the 2027 elections,” Ya’u said.
At the end of the meeting a joint communique was issued calling on National Assembly to fast track necessary electoral laws that will further improve the credibility of elections in Nigeria.
Among the resolutions reached include that the National Assembly “Should amend the electoral act to mandate compulsory electronic transmission of election results to limit manipulation.
“The National Assembly should work towards unbundling INEC including moving voter education responsibility to the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and expedite on the Election Offences Commission Bill.”
Others include “The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) which is the lead agency in election security in Nigeria should provide a public update on their investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of attacks against journalists and observers during the 2023 General elections. According to the Press Attack Tracker of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), 89 journalists were attacked in the 2023 General Elections in the country.
“Security agencies must protect journalists covering elections and guarantee press freedom in line with democratic principles.
The meeting also called for a “greater collaboration between the security agencies and the media to prevent attack, harassment and intimidation of journalists on civic duties.”
