Ekweremadu Charges NUJ on Constitution Amendment
The Deputy President the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has charged the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ to join in articulating an agenda for the next phase of the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
He gave the charge at the opening of the NUJ Constitutional Conference in Benin City, Edo State.
Senator Ekweremadu who also chairs the Senate Committee on Constitution Review described the NUJ as a highly informed group and key stakeholders in the Nigerian project whose views should count on several burning issues bordering on the further amendment of the 1999 Constitution and urged delegates to utilize the opportunity presented by the review of the NUJ Constitution and future opportunities to also raise discourse and come up with positions on the Nigerian Constitution.
“The Nigerian people would like to know what you think about further electoral reforms; administrative, fiscal, and political conditions of the Nigerian local government system; devolution of powers among the three tiers of government; the revenue allocation formula; strengthening of the anti-graft war, state creation, state police, special courts, etc”, Ekweremadu emphasised.
The Deputy President of the Senate who also chaired the opening session of the NUJ Constitution Review Conference urged delegates to show character, objectivity, and sense of focus in their task, saying “make sure that what you are amending would stand the test of time”.
In their goodwill messages, the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku enjoined journalists to re-jig their practice in view of present realities to remain relevant in view of the competition and challenges posed by social media and citizen journalism.
In his opening address, the NUJ National President, Muhammad Garba said the NUJ constitution review was aimed at repositioning the Union.
Garba who raised concern over the safety of journalist, lamented the death of Zakariya Isa who was recently gunned down in Maiduguri, restating the readiness of the NUJ to partner with relevant agencies and stakeholders to find lasting solution to the nation’s security challenges.
Uche Anichukwu is Special Adviser (Media) to the Deputy President of the Senate
