Abia State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has inaugurated a 5-man committee tasked with tackling unethical behaviors among Journalists in the Council. The committee, which is headed by former Chairman of Correspondent Chapel, Emmanuel Ugwu and Nkechi Nnaemeka Isaac of the BCA chapel as Secretary, was mandated to go after any Journalist who derails from the ethics of the profession in the state and recommend necessary sanctions to be visited upon such defaulters.
The committee is also to ensure that no charlatans are allowed to parade themselves as journalists in Abia State. Inaugurating the ethics and disciplinary committee at the Abia State secretariat of the NUJ, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Abia State Council, Victor Ndukwe charged the members of the committee to work without fear or favor but ensure that every case reported to it is handled in accordance with their terms of reference.
He said that Journalism as a noble profession is practiced by people of sound character and such must be maintained. The NUJ Chairman encouraged Journalists in Abia State to discharge their duties responsibly and professionally, as anyone caught in the web of unethical conduct would be sanctioned if found guilty as may be recommended by the disciplinary committee. In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the ethics and disciplinary committee, Emmanuel Ugwu, said his committee would carry out their responsibilities without fear or favor.
He made it clear that there would be no sacred cow as according to him, ” We will do our job without fear or favor no matter whose ox is gored” Ugwu therefore appealed to Journalists in the State to maintain professionalism in their duties and avoid any act that may earn them sanctions. Some Journalists who were present during the inauguration praised the NUJ Chairman for coming out with the idea. Three other members of the committee were drawn from Unity Federated, Information and National Ambassador Chapels.
