NTA Lafia GM tasks journalists on professionalism

Mr Hamza Musa-Makarfi, General Manager, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Lafia has called journalists to uphold professional ethics to promote peace and unity in the country.

Musa-Makarfi made the call on Wednesday in Lafia when he received the executive and members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nasarawa Chapter.

He attributed the increasing agitations in parts of the country partly to bad reportage inspired by personal sentiments and appealed to journalists to concentrate on their professional responsibilities.

“The kind of atmosphere now was not what it was few weeks ago. I mean, Nigeria was like boiling, in my opinion it is as a result of very bad reportage.

“Journalists are mixing personal sentiments with their professional work. It should not be so.

“Even as journalists, we do not have any society other than this society. So if anything happens, it also happens to us, to our families, to our professional colleagues.

“So we should do what is expected of us to unite the people not to create division.

“It is not that the reportage of agitation is incorrect. It is correct but if you put some other interests apart from the real facts on ground, then it becomes something else.

“We should work for a true united Nigeria and adhere to the tenets of our profession.’’

He explained that a closer relationship between journalists of different media houses would yield positive gains for the country.

The general manager called on journalists in the state to come together and engage in critical discourse that would promote the unity and peace of Nigeria.

“Anything you want us to do together, we will do it as far as it concerns national cohesion, bringing people together and pushing our society together.

“So, let us find a way of building a deeper relationship that will benefit the people of Nasarawa and Nigeria.

“Let us bring ideas that will benefit the general public. I look forward to a partnership where we can talk to society on issues of development.

“Soon, we will invite you to come to our programmes to ventilate your knowledge on very important national issues.’’

Earlier, the correspondent chapel Chairman, Mr Suleiman Abubakar said the visit of the members to the station, was to felicitate with the general manager on his new appointment as Head of NTA, Lafia.

“Your appointment is homecoming because of the fact that you are a pioneering member of the chapel before you left the state.

“I have no doubt in my mind that with your appointment, NTA Lafia will witness a complete change which will benefit all staff of the station and members of the public,” he said.