Today is World Press Freedom Day, a day established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, to highlight the importance of press freedom and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression, as outlined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Correspondent Emmanuel Okonkwo reports that some respondents who spoke to the ABS on the celebration, including a member of Civil Society Organization, Comrade Earnest Nnoli, Apostle Favour James of Apostolic Church Awka Area Superintendent, and Councilor Representing Nibo Ward, Honourable Stanley Nnebe while saying that journalists in this part of the world deserve to be celebrated as they are doing well in checkmating powers in Nigeria and keeping the public informed through their reportage, encouraged them to do more especially in curbing spread of fake news and other reports which are capable of destroying the society instead of building it.
On their parts, the Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists Anambra State Council, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, and a Journalist in Awka, Comrade Ogemdi Ozoemenam while quoting section 22 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria which mandates the press to hold government accountable and responsible to the people, regretted that journalists are not really free to discharge their duties in Nigeria, irrespective of the backings by the constitution, calling for the full implementation of the laws protecting media practitioners’ rights in carrying out the official duties.
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