NUJ DEFENDS OSUN TVC CORRESPONDENT

The Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has denounced the accusation leveled against Rafiu Hammed, a TVC correspondent in Osun State.

Hammed was accused of misreporting on the closure of primary health centers in the state.

According to a statement by NUJ Chairman, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu, and Secretary, Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin, Hammed was simply doing his job, as the reported event was a news conference and not a special report.

The union criticized the press release by the Special Adviser on Public Health, Dr. Akindele Adekunle, as being in bad taste and an attempt to gag the press.

The NUJ emphasized that the media has a responsibility to cover press conferences of any group and that it is up to the Special Adviser to call his own press conference to refute claims rather than accusing journalists of misreporting.

The union maintained that the press has a constitutional responsibility to hold those in government accountable, as stated in Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution.