By Muhammad Goronyo, Sokoto
As Nigeria cue in to celebrate World Press Day, the Sokoto State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has stressed the need for improved working relationship between the media practitioners and security operatives, particularly the police in the state.
A statement signed by the Secretary of the Council, Abubakar Auwal Imam and made available to newsmen in commemoration of this year’s world press freedom which is being celebrated all over the world today , said the two need one another to discharge their respective constitutional responsibilities effectively.
“Security operatives should always see journalists as friends and necessary partners in achieving their core mandates of maintaining law and order in our societies.
“On our part, we assure them of all the support necessary to achieve those mandates because no society would thrive in a state of insecurity.
It urged the general public to always support the security agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and to avoid taking law into their hands.
The council however, described the recent attack on police divisional headquarter in Kware as unfortunate.
While calling on the security operatives to sustain their fight against bandits and other criminal elements, NUJ advised them to also try as much as they can to win the heart of the locals whose support is necessary to achieve success in their operation.
The council while commending its members for discharging their responsibilities deligently and in line with the ethics of the profession, it however reechoed its call on them to remain apolitical.
He enjoined them to continue to practice in accordance with the laid down rules and regulations of the profession.
The council reappealed to the state government to enhance the welfare of working journalists in the state, by increasing their allowances, providing them with working tools and operation vehicles.
It urged the government to work towards maintaining the existing relationship between it and members of the council.
The council also appealed to the state government to ensure timely completion of the on going projects and hasten the payment of retirement benefits to the retired civil servants as well as restore water supply to those communities cut off by developmental projects being executed in the state.
