The Chairman ,House Committee on Media and Public Affairs,Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has felicitated with Nigerian journalists and their counterparts all over the world on the occasion of this year World Press Freedom Day.
Rep .Kalu who is also representing Bende federal constituency in the federal house of representatives,said the World Press Freedom Day, remain a day to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their noble profession.
“We are reminded on this day that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and shut down; while journalists are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered. Therefore I celebrate the government for respecting and upholding the freedoms of the press and the fundamental right to freedom of expression as enshrined in sections 22 and 32 of the 1999 Constitution (as altered). I applaud the press in Nigeria for taking their duty of factual, accurate and informative news reportage seriously especially in this COVID-19 pandemic crisis. I acknowledge the media’s efforts to provide facts and analysis, holding leaders in every sector accountable.”
“As Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, I remain committed to upholding the freedom of press and expression in all forms in Nigeria. I call on the Nigerian Government and all relevant stakeholders to develop initiatives that seek to protect media workers, recognizing that press freedom is essential for a future of peace, justice and equity for all. I also encourage all journalists in Nigeria to always remain committed to the cardinal principles of journalism and continue to act as the watchdog of democracy and society at large. Fake news must be shunned at all times because of the damaging consequences.”
Happy World Press Freedom Day. “
