NUJ TASKS JOURNALISTS TO ADHERE TO PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

The Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, Mr Deji Olumoye, on Friday urged Journalists to be committed to the ethics of the profession. Olumoye, who stated this during the election and inauguration of new executive members of the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), stressed the need for journalists to be factual before going to the press.

``As trained journalists, we should be careful of what write. We should be sure of the facts before going to the press. We should not send hear say to members of the public as story. We should be guided by the ethics of the profession.

``As leaders of the union in Lagos, we will not allow members to rubbish the union reputation by sending misleading story. We would ensure that members are not use as instruments in the hands of politicians and others,’’ Olumoye said.

He advised CRAN members to avoid conflict in the name of election, stressing that people should play the game according to the rule without any division amongst members.

The NUJ Chairman used the election to correct the title of some positions in CRAN, which include the position of President, now changed to Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively, so as to reflect the union constitution.

According to Olumoye, the NUJ only has one President, noting therefore, that all other affiliate associations must have Chairman as their leader.

``Every one of us was first a journalist before becoming a member of beat association. NUJ is the mother body of all journalists in Nigeria. Beat associations are under NUJ constitution. Hence forth, CRAN officials must be in office for a term of three years as against two operated before,’’ Olumoye noted.

The positions of CRAN’s Chairman and vice were contested, while five other positions were returned unopposed.

Christopher Oji of the Sun Newspaper and Femi Ogbonikan of Leadership Newspaper were elected as Chairman and Vice, while Moses Omorogieva of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was returned unopposed as the Secretary.

Others returned unopposed were Niran Odufaye of Metro FM, FRCN, as Assistant Secretary, Juliana Francis, News watch Newspaper as Treasurer, Andrew Utulu of Daily Independence as Financial Secretary, Olalekan Olabulor of Tribune as Internal Auditor and Evelyn Usman of Vanguard as External Auditor.

In his acceptance speech, Christopher Oji promised to work according to the constitution of the NUJ and ethics of journalism, with a view to take the profession to a better level.

He assured CRAN’s members of better welfare, while he called on security agencies to check the rising wave of insecurity in the country, particularly in the north.

Personalities present to witness the election include Lagos State Deputy Police spokesman, Damascus Ozoani, representing the PPRO and NUJ Lagos State council officials.