From Maiharaji Altine
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zamfara state council has inaugurated nine-member ethics and disciplinary committee to effectively control unprofessional conduct of working journalists in the state .
Those appointed included, Muhammad Tanko Khalil as chairman and Haliru Umar as secretary.
Other members are, Ibrahim Garba Tunau, Usman Muhammad Maru, Ibrahim Muhammad Kanoma, Kefas Habila Dogon Yaro, Bashir Sanda, Aliyu Adamu Tsafe and Aisha Abdullahi Ja’o.
Speaking during their inauguration, the state’s council’s chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Musa Maizare said their appointments were based on merit, considering their track records of service and professionalism.
Maizare maitained that journalism played an important role in nation building, adding that, as watchdogs of the society, journalists were supposed to be neutral in the discharge of their responsibilities.
He expressed displeasure over the way and manner how Journalism profession was bastardized by some members who operated outside the ethics of the profession.
He said, “It is disheartening to note that, the ethics of journalism profession are now being compromised, which is a threat to the reputation of the profession”.
He maintained that, in an effort to address these problems, the state council considered it very necessary to constitute the ethics and disciplinary committee to sanitize the profession.
“The State Council of the NUJ is today inaugurating an Ethics And Disciplinary Committee”.
“We have carefully selected reputable veterans who worked and left a landmark in the profession to serve as members of the committee.”
“The action is in line with Article 7 of the NUJ Constitution that mandates the State Councils to form this kind of Committee.”
“I want to use this opportunity to call on my colleagues In Pen Profession to give the Committee their maximum corporation to enable its members to discharge their assign responsibilities diligently.” said Maizare.
He stated that within four months of their stewardship they were able to record some achievements which include overhauling the Council’s vehicle and furnishing the offices at the Press Centre.
“We were also able to maintain a cordial relationship among working journalists in the State.”
“I would like to acknowledge the utmost attention the media is having from Zamfara State Government.
The NUJ state chairman commended the state government for the establishment of Gold City FM and the rehabilitation of Zamfara Radio in the state.
“We hope this gesture will be extended to the state legacy Newspaper, the only government-owned newspaper house in the state.”
The chairman maintained that the Council was planning to organize training for its members to make them more relevant to modern journalism.
He appealed to all members of the union to maintain active participation in all union activities for its development.
Speaking at the occasion, the Special Adviser to Governor Bello Mattawalle on public enlightenment, Media and Publicity, Alhaji Zailani Bappa described the committee as a welcome development.
Bappa stated that, there were lots of gray areas that needed to be addressed in journalism profession, following the emergence of the social Media.
He commended the state NUJ for setting up the committee and assured that the state government would do all it could to assist the working journalists in the state.
In an acceptance speech on behalf of the members, the chairman of the committee, Alhaji Tanko Halil commended the NUJ council for appointing them to serve in the committee and promised to justify the confidence reposed in them.
He assured that as veterans in the profession, they would work hard in order to make sure that the Journalism profession was not thrown into mad.
Halil maintained that, each of the seven members of the committee could singlehandedly carry out the assignment, considering the caliber of persons involved.
“I am happy to note that, each one of us can singlehandedly take charge of the ethics and disciplinary committee and achieve a desired result”.
“We are calling on members of the NUJ to discharge their duties in accordance with the ethics of our noble profession”.
Halil stressed that, if all journalists could abide by the rules of the profession, the ethics and disciplinary committee will virtually become redundant.
In a vote of thanks, the council’s secretary, Ibrahim Ahmad Gada thanked all those who have graced the occasion, despite their tied schedule.
He also commended the state government, security agents and other other relevant agencies for their enormous contribution and assured that the NUJ would continue to partner with them for rapid development of the state in particular and the nation in general.
Congress meeting was organized by the council immediately after the inauguration of the ethics and disciplinary committee members.
