The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa-Ibom chapter has assured that it would continue to ensure the state government remained responsive to the people.
The union gave the assurance in a message to celebrate this year’s World Press Freedom Day.
The statement signed by the council’s chairman and secretary Messrs Amos Etuk and Dominic Akpan respectively, stated that presently, no journalist in the state was in detention.
The union leaders described the theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Journalism Without Fear or Favour,’ as fitting, “because Journalists in Akwa Ibom State, had never and will not depart from the cherished path of upholding the truth in their reports of any issue in the State, including the Coronavirus pandemic.”
The release titled: “2020 World Press Freedom Day: Truth Over Fake News In The Face Of COVID-19 Challenge, stated further: “We are urged by the import of this year’s theme of the World Press Freedom Day to reassure Akwa Ibom people that we shall continue to discharge our duties with utmost objectivity and without fear or favour.”
Below is the full text of the release:
“The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council, joins millions of Journalists all over the world to mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day.
“As we all know, May 3, of every year is set aside by UNESCO to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom and to pay tributes to Journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
“The theme of this year’s celebration, which is ‘Journalism Without Fear or Favour,’ is fitting, because Journalists in Akwa Ibom State, had never and will not depart from the cherished path of upholding the truth in their reports of any issue in the State, including the Coronavirus pandemic.
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“We are urged by the import of this year’s theme of the World Press Freedom Day to reassure Akwa Ibom people that we shall continue to discharge our duties with utmost objectivity and without fear or favour.
“This is because an independent press is a major pillar for the sustenance of democracy and good governance in any society.
“While it is pertinent to state here that there is no member of the NUJ, in Akwa Ibom State that is currently in detention, we wish to add that we shall continue to hold the feet of government at all levels to the fire, because that is one of the ways to make them responsive to the people and enhance accountability and transparency in the conduct of their affairs.
“We salute the commitment of all the Journalists in the State in the fight against the global pandemic by disseminating timely and accurate information to the public.
“In line with our role of providing reliable and credible information to the people on any issue, the State Council, yesterday visited the Akwa Ibom State Isolation Centre under construction, at the General Hospital, Ituk Mbang, Uruan Local Government Area, to see the level of work done in the facility.
“We are not only satisfied with what we saw, we are convinced that the facility will be completed within the timeline set for it.
“In the course of our duty, we are faced with obvious challenges of the pandemic, but we further solicit for the support in the provision of PPEs for our members in our different schedules.
“We urge our members to remain steadfast in the discharge of their duties, especially in line with this year’s theme as we take independent decisions that will develop our society.
“Also, we salute the sacrifices of our past leaders to the development of the journalism profession in our State.
“Together, we shall overcome the pandemic, which has denied us this year of the robust intellectual engagements and other activities usually associated with the celebration.”
God bless Akwa Ibom State.
