Senate President hails Nigerian journalists on World Press Freedom Day
(Nigeria) The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan,
felicitates Nigerian journalists as they mark the World Press Freedom Day.
Lawan commends the Fourth Estate of the Realm in Nigeria for
doing a great job in holding the mirror to the society, speaking truth to power
and insisting on government being accountable to the people.
He acknowledges that men of the pen profession in Nigeria
have made heroic contributions to the society and have continued to do so at
great costs.
It is in this regard that the Senate President reflects on
the theme for this year celebration of the World Press Freedom Day, which is:
"Journalism under digital siege."
The theme is to draw attention to "surveillance and
digitally-mediated attacks on journalists" around the world in their
course of duty.
The Senate President assures journalists in Nigeria that the
National Assembly will continue through legislations to protect them and
enhance the practice of their noble profession.
"Our fledging democracy can only thrive under an
environment of free speech and freedom of the press. That freedom is an
essential ingredient of democracy.
"However, journalists must also continue to take due
cognizance of their responsibilities to the society by wielding their mighty
pens and keyboards with circumspection.
"In this age of information, practicioners, whether in
the traditional or new media, have an obligation now more than ever before to
uphold the ethics and tenets of the journalism profession and show the way in
responsible dissemination of information.
"Because of the fear of the dangerous consequences of
the abuse of the power of the media, some people have called for the regulation
of social media.
"As a parliament, the National Assembly will not allow
free speech and press freedom to be constricted but will also strive to ensure
that the freedom is not abused.
"On this note, I wish the Nigerian journalists a happy World Press Freedom Day," Lawan says.
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