President Muhammadu Buhari has charged media practitioners to pursue fairness, objectivity, balance and other ideals of the profession in the discharge of their duties.
Buhari, who gave the charge in Abuja on Thursday also assured media practitioners that his administration would continue to promote press freedom.
He commended journalists in the country for their commitment to the profession as they joined their colleagues all over the world to mark World Press Freedom Day.
The President in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina challenged Nigerian journalists not to allow themselves to be used as instruments of division in the country and urged them to use the day to recommit themselves to the ethics of the profession.
“Without adherence to ethics, professions turn awry, and become part of national malaise, rather than solutions.
“That is why journalists must constantly recommit to the canons of fairness, accuracy, objectivity, balance, and other ideals that guide their profession.
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“On this occasion of World Press Freedom Day, I urge you to rededicate yourselves to the role of being watchdogs of society, while being mindful of the cohesion and equilibrium of that same society.
“There are always those who want to use the media to emphasize our fault lines as a people, dwell on primordial sentiments, and keep the country perpetually on the same spot. Be wary of such.”
Buhari noted that the theme of this year’s celebration, “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation,” was very apt for Nigeria, having recently concluded its general elections, and urged the media to reflect on “the deleterious effect of fake news, misinformation and disinformation before, during and after the polls.”
He assured that, “government would continue to ensure that the media was not muzzled in any way, since democracy and freedom of expression were kindred spirits.”
World Press Freedom Day is observed every May 3 to celebrate fundamental principles of press freedom, evaluate press freedom round the world, defend media from attacks on their independence, and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
