The National Broadcasting Commission has filed an appeal against the ruling of the Federal High Court which dismissed the commission’s motion to set aside a May 2023 judgment restraining it from imposing fines on radio and television stations.
In a four-ground notice of appeal filed by NBC’s lead counsel, Mr. Babajide Koku (SAN), it complained about the decision of the lower court while asking the appellate to set aside the earlier judgment.
An Abuja-based lawyer, Mr. Noah Ajare, in a suit instituted on behalf of Media Rights Agenda, had challenged the powers of the NBC to fine broadcasters, following the imposition of N500,000 fine each on 45 broadcast stations for alleged contraventions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code in 2019.
Giving his ruling, Justice James Omotosho, held that only courts of law are empowered to impose sanctions for criminal offences, noting that NBC was “neither a court nor a judicial tribunal to make pronouncements on the guilt of broadcast stations notwithstanding the NBC Code, thereby violating the constitution.”
In its first ground of appeal, the NBC argued that Justice Omotosho erred in law when he refused to set aside the judgment, which it alleged, was demonstrated before him to have been deceitfully obtained on the ground that the commission was indolent and ought to have raised the objection in the substantive suit timeously.
It said the law confers on a court the inherent power to review and set aside its earlier judgment on grounds of fraud and deceit if those grounds are subsequently brought to its knowledge and demonstrated to exist.
The second ground of appeal is that the judge erred in law when he held that he would not set aside his earlier judgment because “res judicata” was not a ground for settling aside a default judgment.
The NBC’s third ground of appeal is that the judge erred in law when he held that “In the final analysis, the application by the respondent/applicant (NBC) has no substance for being an afterthought and a belated attempt at challenging the jurisdiction of the court.”
In its fourth ground of appeal, the commission said the judge erred in law when he found that “a party who is the victim of a default judgment fraudulently obtained would not be entitled to the indulgence of a court of law if it applies to set aside the judgment belatedly without having taken the opportunity of appearing to raise those issues in its defence to the substantive claim.”
The NBC argued that the law and, in particular, the rules of the Federal High Court, permit a party against whom a default judgment was obtained to subsequently apply to have such a judgment set aside on recognized grounds.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits on Thursday invaded some communities in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State and killed 16 people.
This is coming barely 24 hours after rival militia groups unleashed terror on the Gbagir community in Ukum LG of the state leading to the death of no fewer than 40 people.
The latest attack, according to a source, happened on Thursday as the bandits embarked on a killing spree as they ransacked about 11 communities.
Sources revealed that the state deputy governor, Sam Ode and security chiefs in the state have gone on the spot assessment of the area.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State Command, Catherine Anene promised to get details of the incident as soon as the Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, who had gone to the troubled area returned.
Details later…
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ActionAid Nigeria has condemned the abductions of Internally Displaced Persons in the Gambarou-Ngala area of Borno State and pupils and teachers of LEA Primary School at Kuriga, Kaduna State.
The According earlier reported that over 280 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School at Kuriga, Kaduna State, were abducted by bandits on Thursday.
The bandits were reported to have invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of the state on Thursday, shooting at their victims before taking away at least 280 of the pupils and teachers from both schools.
The incident occurred barely 24 hours after insurgents abducted 200 internally displaced women while fetching firewood in the bush in Ngala, the headquarters of Gambarou-Ngala in Borno State.
In a statement by its Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, AAN said the abductions mirrored the previous abductions of the Chibok and Dapchi girls, adding that every passing moment without actions drew the country closer to a repeat of tragic outcomes of previous abduction cases.
He called on the Borno and Kaduna state governments, as well as the Federal Government, to prioritise the immediate rescue of the abductees and reunite them with their families.
“We vehemently condemn these brazen acts of terror on innocent civilians, which tragically mirror past atrocities such as the abductions of the Chibok and Dapchi girls. We call on the Kaduna and Borno State Governments and the Federal Government of Nigeria to prioritise the urgent rescue of the abducted IDPs and ensure their safe return to their families.
“Every passing moment without action brings us closer to a repeat of the tragic outcomes witnessed in previous abductions. It is absurd and unacceptable that over 200 Nigerians in Borno State have been kidnapped since February 29 without any decisive action being taken to rescue them and that scores of children were abducted in Kaduna State just a few days later. We refuse to tolerate the same failures and slow progress in rescuing our abducted compatriots,” he said.
The group also demanded accountability and justice for all the victims of the abductions while urging security agencies to learn from past mistakes and take decisive action to prevent further harm to the abductees.
It further highlighted the urgent need for government to prioritise the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative agreed upon by federal and state schools, noting that insecurity “has contributed to the current 20 million children who are out of school, and the Safe Schools Initiative aims to address these challenges and ensure a safe learning environment for all children in Nigeria”.
The Country Director emphasised that the government must ensure that security agencies did not delay in rescuing the abductees.
“Their lives and well-being must be the top priority of the states and federal government at this time. ActionAid Nigeria also calls upon the international community, civil society organisations, and all stakeholders to join us in advocating for the immediate and safe rescue of the abducted IDPs and kidnapped pupils,” he stated.
Twenty years after Angeles Pedraza lost her daughter during the carnage of the Madrid train bombings that killed nearly 200 people, she still doesn’t understand why.
“Although it’s painful and sad every day when a date like this comes around, it’s much worse. Because after 20 years, I still wonder why, what have these murderers achieved?” Pedraza, 65, told AFP at her home in Valdemoro.
Her memory isn’t what it used to be, but she still remembers “every single minute” of March 11, 2004, when 10 bombs exploded on four commuter trains shortly after 7:30 am, killing 192 people and wounding nearly 2,000.
Her 25-year-old daughter Miryam, she said, would normally take the train to work with her younger brother Javier and as far as the family was concerned, the day started just like any other.
Pedraza was driving to work when she heard initial reports on the radio but didn’t worry about her kids as the explosion seemed to be at Atocha station in the city centre.
But by the time she got to work, there had been more explosions and everyone was in a panic trying to track down their loved ones. She quickly reached her son who – by a miracle – had overslept, and was safe.
But she could not get hold of Miryam despite trying everything to find her.
“We drove miles to all the hospitals and emergency rooms because every hour, they would release an updated list of those who’d been admitted,” she said.
“All we wanted was to hear her name, but we never did.”
Eventually, they went to an information centre for families where they waited. At 3:00 am, they were told she was among the dead.
– ‘I’ll never forgive them’ –
“On that day, you die yourself. Because aside from the immense pain, you cannot understand why,” she said, 20 years of grief etched on her face.
She has since spent years very publicly campaigning for justice as head of the AVT Terror Victims Association. But her son has never once spoken of that day when his sister was killed and he was spared.
“I try not to be bitter and I don’t live with a sense of hatred, but I’ll never forgive those who did this to my daughter.”
As Pedraza was frantically contacting the hospitals, Francisco Alameda Sanchez, who was on the same train but escaped largely unharmed, was down on the tracks trying to help the wounded.
In the first carriage where one of the bombs went off, Sanchez, who was 40 at the time, found himself lying on his back with the train’s doors and windows blown out.
“I wasn’t physically hurt except I had a lot of pain in my ears, so I stayed to help people who were worse off than me,” he told AFP. He likely survived because he was sitting at the furthest point from the blast, he said.
He stayed for three more hours, during which time he witnessed horrors that never left his mind: the screaming, burnt bodies, people without legs.
With no way of carrying the injured, several of them used the train doors as stretchers, which were so heavy it took six people to carry them.
“The smell of burning, of burnt flesh, has stayed with me. And the deathly silence,” he told AFP at Atocha station.
– ‘The fear has stayed with me’ –
His ears recovered and he went back to work, refusing therapy, thinking he “was strong and could deal with it on my own”.
But 10 years later, he was struggling so he joined the March 11 Terror Victims Association and found a therapist who transformed his life. Since 2016, he has served as secretary of the group, which has 1,900 members.
Even so, he has not shaken off the fear.
“The fear has stayed with me, every time I come here my head starts spinning,” he said, glancing around the huge station which lies close to Madrid’s Prado Museum and Retiro Park.
Rut Jezabel Garcia was 24 when the train she was on exploded, sustaining a shoulder injury that needed surgery, and long-term hearing problems as well as years of psychological issues.
“Although I was on the train that suffered the least damage, it was just horrible,” said Garcia, who works in accounting and has a 10-year-old daughter.
“There are images of injured people you can’t get out of your head, even though it’s been 20 years… It was just unreal, like something from a film.”
Since then, she’s never taken the same train and avoids crowds “because I’m afraid the same thing could happen again.”
She still has shoulder pain, and hearing problems and suffers from persistent insomnia.
Despite everything, she’s grateful to be alive, although the anniversary will always be difficult.
“For me, the month of March is horrible, no matter how many years pass,” she said, fighting back the tears.
“It’s always bad. If I could, I’d erase it from the calendar.”
Last Spain attack
Meanwhile, in 2017, in another event in Barcelona’s most popular street, there was vehicle ramming, which the police said was a “terror attack”.
“We can confirm there are 13 dead and more than 50 injured,” regional interior minister Joaquim Forn said in a tweet.
This International Women’s Day (IWD), March 8th 2024, Infinix proudly embraces the global theme of “#InspireInclusion,” reflecting on strides we’ve made towards a more inclusive world and recommitting to the journey ahead. At Infinix, technology plays a pivotal role in breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for all.
Infinix’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
At the heart of Infinix’s mission is a commitment to creating technology that empowers every individual, irrespective of gender. Our diverse range of smartphones and accessories is designed with everyone in mind, ensuring that people across the globe not only have access to technology that meets their needs, but also enriches their lives, and amplifies their voices.
Spotlight on Women at Infinix
At Infinix Nigeria, we’re incredibly proud of the diverse team of women who bring their passion, expertise, and vision to our work every day. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion shines through the collective efforts of our talented female professionals, who hold key positions across various departments – from Integrated Marketing Communications and PR to Social Media &Content Development, Marketing, Sales Force Training, Human Resources Management and Customer Service.
From left to right: ChristiannaAlao, Olajuwon Titilope, Oluwayemisi Ode, Daniella Nwosu, MosunBabalola and FadekemiEzenabor
The collaborative spirit and innovative mindset of the women in our workforce have been instrumental in driving our brand forward, ensuring that our products not only serve but also empower our diverse user base. Their work behind the scenes is a testament to the power of inclusion and its impact on fostering innovation and excellence within the tech industry.
Looking Ahead: Our Pledge for the Future
While we celebrate our progress, we recognize the journey towards full inclusion is ongoing, and we are dedicated to deepening our efforts to champion gender equality and inclusion.
In the recognition of the immense potential of women in the business and tech landscapes, we are committed to empowering 20 women by sponsoring them for the WIMBIZ Mentorship programme. This carefully curated mentorship journey is not only designed to catalyze their careers and business ventures but also serves as a critical step towards nurturing a generation of women who are equipped with the power of technology and the support of a community that believes in their boundless potential.
Infinix will continue to explore avenues to further support and empower women in technology and beyond. Our vision for the future is clear: to create a world where technology is a tool for empowerment for everyone, regardless of gender.
Every year, panel sessions, webinars, and seminars celebrating International Women’s Day often focus on the dwindling numbers of women in the C-suite and middle level management, and the glass ceiling aspiring female leaders must break to take their careers to the next level. However, the reality is that women must compete fiercely in the corporate space against their male counterparts, facing additional challenges such as balancing home responsibilities and personal ambitions. These challenges further highlight the importance of a level playing field for women that provide the necessary support that will enable them to succeed in their careers and on the home front.
APM Terminals Nigeria Chief Commercial Officer, Caroline Aubert-Adewuyi advises that firstly women must address this concept of a glass ceiling. She said the more women focused on a glass ceiling; the less time they spend on things that could help them progress in their careers.
Admitting that the container handling business was indeed male dominated, she said the terminal having a majority male workforce should not be an area of concern for ladies.
Caroline Aubert-Adewuyi
“It should be a strength, in a way that it is not because of a lack of gender balance, that things that can’t work. On the contrary, we should be asking how we can make the best of the situation without thinking that men can progress their careers faster than women because there is no such thing at APM Terminals.
“Career women have real issues which they openly share. Things like work-life balance, how to navigate career progression, how to behave professionally, how to network. It is for these reasons and several more, that we have a mentoring program in APM Terminals Nigeria for women. I believe by having these discussions with a mentor and openly sharing perspectives, this program can help women grow in their career and get ready for what is coming their way. Because they must be ready. The program is not a one-way street. It is really based on conversations between a mentor and mentee to open perspectives.
“By having the right conversations with a mentor, the women will stop thinking in terms of glass ceilings, limitations and gender equity and would understand that they are following their own path and way. What is best for them can only be decided by the women themselves and they can be guided accordingly,” Caroline says.
Chinelo Obienyem
While APM Terminals Apapa recently kicked off its mentoring program for women, at the West Africa Container Terminal Onne, it is about to enter its second session having launched the pilot session last year.
Senior People Business Partner, West Africa Container Terminal Onne, ChineloObienyem, says, “At inception, WACT was predominantly a male-only terminal. However, in its over 20 years of operations, there had been a significant shift that announced female representation in the workforce. With the active participation of the ladies, it was time to focus on supporting and empowering our women to grow and contribute.
“The mentoring program started in 2023 with the aim of accelerating the gender balance/diversity goals in WACT and to connect WACT ladies to other senior female leaders in the A.P. Moller Maersk Group to gain and share diverse experiences.”
She added that the program provided WACT female workforce with better clarity on their career progression, enabling greater participation in the terminal’s transformation journey.
“It was really a great experience for our ladies whose leadership skills have improved as we have seen them navigate challenges with a high level of confidence and interact with different spheres of leadership.
“We are also working on an approval for our female operators to work night shift, which is part of creating an enabling and inclusive environment for our ladies. We are committed to supporting and empowering our ladies to break down barriers which may hinder their career, in line with our core value – ‘our employees,” Chinelo says.
In 2019, APM Terminals Apapa had obtained a permit to enable hiring of women to work the night shift in the terminal. A provision in Nigeria’s Labour Act prohibits night work for women in an industrial setting.
At APM Terminals, other positive initiatives besides mentoring, are being adopted to encourage growth and a sense of belonging for its female employees.
Stating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as a core part of the organisation’s integrator logistics vision, mission and corporate culture, Senior People Business Partner, APM Terminals Apapa, OmolaraOlatunbosun, said the organisation provides leadership development programs for women, creates mentorship opportunities while ensuring equal pay and advancement opportunities for all employees regardless of gender. Since 2020 till date, APM Terminals Apapa has seen 250% rise in women in leadership.
Describing inclusion capability building as a leader led agenda at APM Terminals, she says women only programs enable the organization to target female talent and provide the skills, tools and techniques to help maximize the potential of an underrepresented talent pool.
“The AP Moller Maersk group, of which we are a part, has implemented various initiatives to promote inclusion for women in the workplace. This includes setting diversity and inclusion goals and the DEI Policy.
“These policies have helped create a supportive and inclusive environment where women feel empowered to pursue leadership positions and thrive in their careers,” Omolara said.
Other programs such as unconscious bias training for employees, employee resource groups for women, and leadership development initiatives specifically targeted at women, aim at increasing representation of women in leadership roles.
She listed some of these positive initiatives to include the WIL program – Women in leadership which develops Women in Leadership, taking their career to the next level and driving them through a rich development journey, and the S4S – Strategies for Success program which was rolled out globally in 2012 with workshops in Singapore, Mumbai, Copenhagen and Panama.
As part of the terminal’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, Omolara added that it had recently expanded its team of mechanics to include skilled and talented women in the field.
The feat was achieved through the terminal’s partnership with LMI Lady Mechanic Initiative, an NGO indigenous to Nigeria established to empower females with mechanical and technical skills.
“Our new female mechanics will be responsible for maintaining terminal trucks and heavy equipment. They will also learn the new terminal automation systems, hydraulic systems and power generation.
“They bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our organization, and we are confident that their contributions will have a positive impact in our organization,” she said.
Omolara Olatunbosun
For Omolara, this year’s International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to Inspire Inclusion and create a truly equitable and supportive environment where all employees, especially aspiring female leaders, can thrive and contribute their unique talents to the organization’s success.
APM Terminals Apapa, Terminal Manager, Steen Knudsen said winning in today’s market was dependent on diversity; diversity of gender, background, nationality, culture and education.
He said, “These are all enablers for our decision-making processes and competitive advantage. While we have made some progress in the middle and senior management on this, we need much more diversity in our frontline business – the place where we are really turning strategy into customer experiences and outcomes. Many of our current managers and leaders have grown up through frontline roles, so it is key for our success that we focus on this.
“It requires the organisation to ensure we have the right facilities for a diverse workforce, which we are currently investing in both in WACT as well as in Apapa. It also requires us to move away from a traditional way of looking at shift rosters and apply more flexibility to ensure we can offer our employees a good way to manage their life’s both at work as well as privately with their families.”
APM Terminals Nigeria Country Managing Director, FrederikKlinke, noted that while the organisation had come some way in ensuring more equal representation at management and office level for women, it is still far from there when it comes to the front-line staff.
He described adequate facilities as the only minimum requirement to promoting the inclusion of more female operators and technicians in the industry.
He said, “We need to also adapt how we organise work to be a more attractive place for women, so that ports and terminals may become as a normal occupation for women as working in a supermarket or nursery. At the country leadership level, we have made significant progress as the Country Leadership Team has over 40% female representation.
“IWD is an opportunity for us all at APM Terminals Nigeria to reflect on how we individually can make our working place more accommodating for women. This is how we as part of Maersk, very concretely improve life for all; for our colleagues and society around us.”
The Federal Government has raised the alarm over maternal and infant mortality in Sokoto State, saying 44 out of 100 newborn babies in the state die.
It, therefore, sought homegrown solutions to maternal and infant fatality in and across the state.
The Special Adviser in charge of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Health, Salma Ibrahim, made the recommendation during a courtesy call on Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Thursday.
She disclosed that Sokoto State still has the highest burden of maternal and infant death in the country.
“Most of the newborn deaths occurred in the state. According to the NBS survey in 2018, 44 out of 100 newborn babies die in the state compared to the national average of 34.
“73 percent of pregnant women do not have access or decide not to go for antenatal care for reason best known to them, and if you don’t attend ANC, it means that if there is a problem, you will not know.
“And women that can deliver by still birth attendants (those that are trained like nurses and midwives) in Sokoto state, you will see that, they are very low, 27 percent out of more that 50 delivery per 100. So sir, it is cause for concern for us,” she said
She noted an increase in family planning in the state, which she said would reduce maternal death.
Ibrahim said that the President was concerned about the health of women and children in the country, which was the reason why they came up with an accelerated emergency plan to address the menace in the country.
“So we want to get the state commitment to accelerate a reduction in maternal death with you as the chief advocate.
“We want the state to explore key drivers, to find out the root causes why women are not delivery in hospitals and come up with home grown solution. We are commitment to support you,” she pledged.
Responding, Aliyu assured her that the state would work with the Presidential Advisory Committee on Health to change the narratives.
Buying hidden gems to get massive returns is the aim of many crypto investors. The astronomical rise in Bitcoin price has encouraged investors to search for bullish coins that can guarantee high yields. Toncoin (TON) and Hedera (HBAR) are on investors’ watch list having shown massive potential in the past weeks. Meanwhile, the Pullix (PLX) launch a few days ago has become the talk of the market as the project attracted a massive inflow of investors who believe that PLX is one of the top DeFi coins with high-yielding potential.
Pullix (PLX) Native Token Is Trading Above $0.51 Days After the Uniswap Listing
While Toncoin and Hedera are currently experiencing an uptrend, crypto traders believe that Pullix (PLX) remains one of the best DeFi coins to invest in 2024. Smart investors who bought the token immediately after it was launched have made more than 300% ROI in these few days after the token price rallied from $0.168 listing price to $0.51.
The Pullix project objective is to solve common problems of DeFi and CeFi exchanges. Pullix will do this by offering high liquidity, zero transaction fees, faster transaction processing and top-notch security. The platform is non-custodial, which means users have full control over their assets. To build customers’ trust, the $PLX token liquidity has been locked for 2 years on Uniswap.
The token is set for BitMart CEX listing in a few hours. Another exchange, X.COM, has announced that $PLX will be listed in its innovative zone under the PLX/USDT trading pair. With this in mind, this is the ideal time to purchase this coin to get massive returns soon. The tokens market cap has also surged from $33.6M to over $100 as it targets $500M in the coming days.
With several crypto analysts predicting a more than 800% rally before 2024 ends, PLX is one of the best DeFi coins to invest in now for future gains. As a trade-to-earn exchange, Pullix will ensure that token holders get a percentage of their daily revenue through its profit-sharing model. There is also a token burn feature in which the non purchased tokens are burned to stabilize the price of the ones in circulation.
Crypto Traders Are Bullish As Toncoin (TON) Price Spikes by 30%
Toncoin’s positive performance in the crypto market has grabbed the attention of cryptocurrency investors. TON has remained steady in its movement. The Toncoin price has increased by 30% in the past month and 23% in the past week, based on data from CoinMarketCap.
While the Toncoin market cap has witnessed a slight decline in the past few days, the trading volume has surged in the past week. The token is on the course of stabilizing at the $2.70 support level. If that happens, some analysts believe the token price will head to $3, making it one of the top DeFi tokens to watch.
Hedera (HBAR) Continues Its Bullish Trend With a 35% Surge
The Hedera token price chart is bullish. Having battled the bear in the past few days, the token seems to have bounced back. Based on data from CoinMarketCap, the Hedera price has rallied by 72% in the past month and 4% in the last week as the bulls continue to dominate.
While the Hedera trading volume is in a slight uptrend, the market cap is declining. The decreasing market activity could signal the return of the bears. However, some analysts are still optimistic of more rallies in the coming months. As such, investors think Hedera’s price will reach $0.13 in the coming weeks.
For more information regarding Pullix see links below:
France’s President Emmanuel Macron will on Friday oversee abortion becoming a constitutional right at a special ceremony in Paris to mark the world’s first.
The procedure had been legal in France since 1975, but Macron last year pledged to better protect it after the US Supreme Court in 2022 overturned the half-century-old right to the procedure, allowing individual states to ban or curtail it.
In a historic vote, a rare congress of both houses of parliament on Monday gave a green light towards making terminating a pregnancy a “guaranteed freedom” in the basic text, sparking celebration among feminists.
The ceremony comes on International Women’s Day, a year to the day the president promised to constitutionalise the right.
The move is backed by most of the French public, even if some conservatives remain against it.
The French government has said that it is now going to try to ensure better safeguards under EU law.
“France must now take this fight to the European level,” said its spokeswoman Prisca Thevenot on Wednesday.
“In 2022, the president said he wanted to add the right to abortion in the European Union’s charter of fundamental rights,” she added.
No country until now had so far as clearly safeguarded the right to a pregnancy termination in its basic text, according to Leah Hoctor, of the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Some countries allude to the right, while others explicitly mention abortion, but only in certain circumstances.
‘Example for progressives’
Neil Datta, of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, said the French move sent a strong signal.
It “could give momentum to improving abortion legislation, just as the reversal of Roe v. Wade in the United States gave some to anti-abortion groups worldwide,” he said.
France “could serve as an example for progressives in all countries of Europe and beyond to define a course,” he said.
Even without amending the constitution, “they could… improve their legislation.”
National Assembly speaker Yael Braun-Pivet – the first woman in the post – was the one to read out the result of Monday’s historic vote, with 780 lawmakers in favour and 72 voting against.
More than 20 of her fellow women parliament speakers from around the world were also in Paris on Thursday.
Macron on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday evening posted a group picture of himself, Braun-Pivet and the visiting lawmakers.
“You are an example for many women, welcome to Paris,” he wrote.
“This March 8, together we will convey a universal message: the freedom of women to resort to abortion. See you tomorrow.”
The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has called on the Federal Government to censor the contents of the social media platforms in Nigeria saying that they are being abused.
Bago said this will checkmate the spread of fake news in the country while promoting objective reportage by practitioners of conventional journalism.
He made this known on Thursday during his decoration as the Grand Patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Niger State Council.
The governor became the latest politician to call for regulated social media after President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, called for social media regulation.
The NUJ National President, Chris Isiguzo, who also presented the governor with a certificate, said the honour was in recognition of his exemplary leadership qualities.
Bago described the role of journalism as vital to the development of any society stressing that journalists have helped in shaping democracy in Nigeria through their reportage.
“As the fourth estate of the realm, journalists should carry out their duties as watchdogs of the society and ensure the objectivity in their reports.
“I call for the introduction of censorship on social media contents to checkmate the spread of fake news and hate speeches,” he said.
The governor lauded the NUJ for finding him worthy of the award, noting that it has set a benchmark for him to do more. He affirmed that his administration will not rest on its oars in its quest to transform Niger State.
Isiguzo disclosed that the conferment on the Governor followed his transformative and developmental strides in the areas of infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, good governance and education among others.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.
