Tella canvasses establishment of Press Council
By Abiodun Bolujoko
A veteran journalist, Alhaji Liad Tella, has called for the establishment of Press Council following the politicisation of the Nigerian media.
Tella, who delivered a lecture at the 3rd Mallam Yusuf Ola-Olu Ali /NUJ media round table titled; “2019 General Election: The Courage to Face the Truth”, said Nigerian press has become a low hanging fruit for the politicians who twist the men of the pen profession to achieve their selfish interest at the detriment of growth and development of the country.
He canvassed for professionalization of media through the introduction of what he called “Media Council of Nigeria” for the attainment of absolute control of media in line with the ethics of the profession.
According to him, the press council, when established and fully backed by law, would serve as a strong regulatory body that will be saddled with the responsibility of protecting the rights and privileges of media practitioners in the country.
The Guest Speaker, who pitied journalists in Nigeria for working under strenuous and excruciating condition, was confident that the press council would free newsmen from the shackles of wicked media proprietors.
He said Nigerian media in the pre and post independence era started on a good note with balanced, objective, and accurate reports with little or no interference of media owners.
Tella, who has been in journalism for over 35 years, disclosed further that political development began in Nigeria on the pages of newspapers.
He therefore called on practicing journalists to be courageous and articulate in the discharge of their professional duties so as to regain the profession’s lost glory.
While describing social media as custodian of fake news, Tella urged journalists to at all time endeavour to produce verifiable reports before, during and after the forthcoming 2019 general elections.
The celebrant, Mallam Yusuf Ola-Olu, SAN, thanked the state council of the NUJ for the honour done him and pledged his continued support to the pen pushers.