The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has assured Nigerian journalists of its commitment to work with all stakeholders to ensure that the media space remains wide, safe and secure for journalism practice and freedom of expression.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN) who stated this in Abuja when he hosted journalists during a media parley in Abuja noted that the Commission cherishes the invaluable roles played by journalists in the society, including informing, educating, entertaining citizens, as well as setting an agenda for the government.
“It cannot be gainsaid that the safety of journalists has been an issue in the country and elsewhere in the world, given that some journalists operate under difficult conditions, where freedom of expression and the media are relegated to the background. In such climes, the issue of censorship, harassment, unlawful detention and assassination are not uncommon”, Ojukwu.
The Chief Human Rights Officer in Nigeria asserted that in view of the onerous constitutional responsibilities amidst the aforesaid challenges facing journalists in Nigeria and elsewhere, it is only just to offer protection to any journalists who were incarcerated in the course of their official functions.
“We will stand behind them and continue to toe this line even with increased vigour, given our concern for the security and safety of journalists and other persons living in the country” he added.
The Executive Secretary observed that it is important to periodically create the opportunity to unwind and relax with the journalists who have consistently raised the bar of human rights promotion in the country, as a way of showing our token of appreciation to the journalists for the humanitarian cause which the Commission and the press have been identified with over the years.
According to the NHRC Boss, the Commission is not oblivious of the fact that many journalists have on their own initiated and written special features and articles highlighting one thematic area of human rights or another, and stressing the need to respect and enforce such rights to the benefit of the state and the citizens.
“Similarly, our friends in the broadcast media have proactively engaged some of our staff on human rights discourse in various human rights programmes, which we have leveraged to disseminate human rights information”, he stated.
Ojukwu restated that the Nigerian journalists are living up to their Constitutional responsibility of holding the government accountable to the people as enshrined in Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche commended the Executive Secretary for deepening the protection of human rights in the country.
He specifically lauded the efforts of the Commission in setting up Human Rights Inquiries, especially as they relate to Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Police brutality and general human rights violations in the country.
The NUJ Chairman tasked the Commission to ensure that the reports of the END SARS panel are made public and implemented accordingly.
He also raised concerns that in view of the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria in 2023, there are fears particularly among the press that there could be some repressive and suppressive actions by the law enforcement agents and other political stakeholders against journalists. He therefore used the occasion to plead with the Commission to watch out for such possible excesses during the elections and ensure the protection of the electoral rights of all Nigerians.
In the same vein, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, FCT Correspondent Chapel, Mr. Jide Oyekunle pledged the commitment of the journalists towards creating human rights awareness, particularly among the vulnerable group such as women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities etc.
He commended the Executive Secretary for what he described as his "unrelenting effort in ensuring periodic interaction with the media over the exponential increase in the rights violations of citizens by the security agents in the country”.
