=By Funmi Falobi=

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos State Council join the rest of the world to  mark 2018 World Press Freedom Day and pay tributes to Journalists who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The theme of the 2018 celebration is “Keeping Power in Check: Media Justice and The Rule of Law.”

The Union in a signed statement by the Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Qasim Akinreti and Alfred Odifa respectively, highlighted the importance of the day as a celebration of fundamental principles of press freedom and defence of media independence.

The statement further appreciated the theme of 2018 edition which addresses the enabling legal environment for press freedom and give special attention to the role of an independent judiciary  in ensuring legal guarantees for press freedom and the prosecution of crimes against journalists.

The Union also noted that for the press to be truly free and contributes its quota to national development, the welfare of Journalists must be properly taken care of. Their remunerations must not only be adequate and commensurate to their roles, but must also be at par with the top salary earners in the society to insulate them from the pervading corruption in the land.

The Union therefore called on media owners to rise up to their responsibilities to their workers and pay salaries as at when due.

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by United Nations, UN General Assembly in December, 1993 following the recommendation of UNESCO’s general conference on May 3, and since then, the anniversary of the declaration  is being celebrated worldwide.

The Union congratulates all Nigerian Journalists on this occasion.