Ekiti NUJ Berates Senate over Hate Speech Bill

The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has lambasted the Senate over the introduction of the contentious hate speech bill, which seeks death penalty for violators in Nigeria.

The bill, which passed first reading in the red chamber last Tuesday, is being sponsored by former Senate spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdulahi.

The chairman of NUJ in Ekiti State, Mr. Rotimi Ojomoyela, who expressed dismay over the matter on Thursday, noted that the bill, when passed would be against the masses in the country, saying: “We should not forget that our constitution allows for the citizens to express their views."

 

He stated this during a public lecture deliver by the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, Professor Adedayo Fasakin, as part of activities to mark the 2019 Press Week of the union.

He encouraged the Senate to be busy with bills that would help in transforming the economy of the country where massive job opportunities will be provided for the teeming youths.

According to him, "NUJ is against that bill because it will be used against the Nigerian masses; it is going to be used against opinions of the citizens, and we should not forget that our constitution allows the citizens to express their views. That bill amounts to duplicity of efforts.

"The National Assembly should be busy with things that are central to the improvement of lives of the people. It is when people do not have what to do that they go on social media, but when we have employment opportunities, our people will be busy. They should create enabling environment for business to thrive instead of these inanities."

Speaking on the topic: 'Good Journalism: Impetus for Good Governance and National Development' Professor Fasakin explained that journalists must be ready to join hands with the government through their reportage to end the growing insecurity, corruption and other vices in the country.

He said the media has contributed in no small measure to the enthronement of good governance and development in Nigeria from the founding of the first newspaper, 'Iwe Iroyin', by Reverend Henry Townsend in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

 

While advising the government at all levels against gagging the media, the rector called on journalists to keep to their roles in setting agenda for the government in the overall interest of the country.

Fasakin said: "The media is not just nominally referred to as the Fourth Estate; this nomenclature is borne out of the humongous responsibilities expected of practitioners of journalism. Government at all levels must realise that everyone, especially the press, must be allowed to play its watchdog roles.

“However, journalists must ensure that professionalism guides their conduct and practice all time. In the world where proclivity for fake news is uncontrollably high and the practice of sensationalism over substance is rife, they must ensure that the principle of gate keeping is sacrosanct."