The Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, has given the Nigeria Football Federation 24hours to rescind its purported ban of two journalists, Ezeocha Nze of The Guardian and Romanus Ugwu of Sun newspapers, from covering its activities.
The council, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Chuks Ehirim, described the alleged ban by the NFF to hangover of the dictatorship that has become the bane of football development in the country.
According to Ehirim, 14 years after military rule, the NFF is yet to come to terms with democratic norms of freedom of speech and rule of law, warning that the union will not watch idly while journalists are subjected to the whims and caprices of few individuals and or agencies.
Ehirim added that there is no law in the country that gives the NFF such powers to bar any journalist from carrying on with his official duties, stressing that the constitution gives them the right to hold any government official accountable and monitor governance on behalf of the people.
The NUJ FCT chairman stated that the officials of the NFF would be held accountable if any harm comes to the affected journalists.
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria has also said it viewed the action taken by the NFF as crude, provocative, retrogressive and uncalled for.
The duo of Ugwu and Nze are bonafide members of SWAN.
They have been going about their official assignments diligently with the best intention to promote the best in sports for the country, according to a statement signed by its Secretary, Andrew Abbah.
“SWAN wants to state that whatever misgiving the authorities have about the two gentlemen in the course of discharging their professional duties should have been reported to SWAN or Nigeria Union of Journalists, which is the parent body,” Abbah said in the statement.
The association condemned the barring of the two journalists from performing their legitimate duties either within the NFF secretariat or elsewhere.
The statement added: “Moreso, NFF should know better that its secretariat is a public place, where every Nigerian who has genuine business to transact is free to enter and exit at will.
“SWAN executive committee is giving the football house a week ultimatum to withdraw its statement barring sportswriters and consequently tender an apology for the unprovoked insult and disgrace.”
Trending
- Sanwo-Olu: We’ve fulfilled our promises
- Upholding Democracy: The imperative of credible party primaries in Nigeria, by Adebanji Dada
- FG revokes 924 dormant mining licences as minister decries racketeering
- Why I didn’t build schools as Anambra governor, Peter Obi replies Omokri
- Establish base in Sambisa forest, Zulum tells Army
- EFCC withdraws appeal against former Kogi Governor Bello
- Fidelity Bank commends Air Peace’s performance
- How AI, automation, and trusted data are shaping next-generation customer service, by Linda Saunders