NUJ caution governor on his order for closure of radio station

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Niger State Council has advised the State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, to tread with caution and in accordance  with democratic tenets in issuing orders.

The position of the council is sequel to a directive by the Governor that a private radio station in Minna, the state capital, Baddegi 90.1 FM, should be closed down. 

While noting that in exercising executive powers especially as it relates to the media industry, the state council of NUJ after an emergency State Working Committee(SWC) meeting urged the Governor to understand the role of the media in holding public officers accountable.

In a statement issued by the Council and signed by its Secretary, Comrade Usman Chiji, Governor Bago was enlightened that only the National Broadcasting Commission(NBC) has legal powers to issue license to radio and television stations and can also revoke same through judicial interpretations when such stations err.

The Council called on the Governor to approach NBC and formally lodge his complaint rather than  outright directive to close down the station whose licencing is not within his executive power.

NUJ was of the belief that, the Governor would have made  effective use of the NUJ as  professional body to table issues relating to professional misconducts.

The statement however cautioned that, in as much as the Council and, indeed, the Union, will not support gagging of  media houses by the authorities, it urged media practitioners in the state to always abide by the ethics of the profession to uphold public confidence adding that in line with this a Committee headed by a Senior Journalist, Pastor Dan Amashingha, was recently set up to ensure revalidation of membership of the Union.

NUJ reminded the Governor on the need to carry media practitioners and houses  along through partnerships instead of ordering for their closure that is against democratic principles.

The Council therefore urged the immediate withdrawal of the order in the interest of democracy, invariably press freedom.