The Nigerian Union of Journalists said on Thursday that it would set up a 24-hour situation room to monitor developments that affect journalists covering the forthcoming general elections.
Bayo Atoyebi, the Chairman of the NUJ National Monitoring Network on Safety of Journalists, said this while addressing newsmen in Abuja.
Atoyebi said the network had also set up a contact committee in the 36 states and the FCT for the purpose of monitoring the safety of journalists during the elections.
He said that the state chapters were given the responsibility of reporting any cases of assault on journalists on the field.
Atoyebi said: “The moment there is an assault on a journalist in any state, the committee will be informed through this National Monitoring Network.
“And we will deliberate on the issues that are arising and appropriately we will advice the NUJ on the action to take in regards to safety and protection of journalists.”
Atoyebi that the network was collaborating with the Police, Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Coprs, the Department of State Services, Immigration and Customs.
He, however, admonished journalists on the need to ensure neutrality in their reports.
He said: “Journalists must be seen not only to be impartial but they must be seen to be totally so.
“Freedom of expression is the basis upon which journalism thrives and a journalist who operates under this umbrella is also not above the law.”
The former National Press Council boss said that the country had reached a critical period of election coverage.
He added: “Tempers are high on the political rostrum and journalists wittingly or unwittingly become victims of political contest.
“So, we must avoid partiality in our reportage and we must adhere strictly to the ethics and code of election coverage.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that membership of the committee consists of representatives of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
Others are information officers of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC, DSS, the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Customs Service.
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