‘You can’t order closure of Radio station in Niger – NUJ  dares  Gov Bago

By Daniel Ebi,Minna 

The Nigeria  Union of Journalists NUJ Niger State Council  has joined  Amnesty international and other Non governmental organization to Caution  Niger state  Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago to withdraw his order of closing Badeggi  Radio, a private broadcast station. 

In a statement by  Niger State Council of the  NUJ  and signed by council Secretary, Comrade Adamu Usman Chiji the union  called on the State Governor to tread  with caution  and in accordance  with democratic tenets in issuing orders.

“While noting that in  exercising executive powers especially as it relates to media industry , 

“The state council of NUJ after emergency State working Committee meeting urged the Governor to understand the role of the media in holding public officers accountable”

The State  council  said its position is sequel to a directive by the Governor to close down a private Radio Station in Minna, Badeggi FM 90.1 FM .

The Statement said it is only the National Broadcasting Commission NBC that has legal powers to issue license to radio and television stations and can also revoke same through judicial interpretations when such stations err.

The Union called on the Governor to approach NBC and formally lodge his complaint rather than  outright directive to close down the station whose licencing is not within his executive power.

The NUJ was of the belief that, the Governor would  have made  effective use of the NUJ as  professional body to table issues relating professional misconducts.

The Statement however cautioned that, in as much  as the Union will not  support gagging of  the media houses by the authorities.

The union urged the practitioners in the State to always abide by the ethics of the profession to uphold public confidence, adding that  in line with this a committee headed by a Senior Journalist, Dan Amasingha was recently set up to ensure revalidation of membership of the union.

The NUJ reminded the Governor on the need to carry media practitioners and houses  along through partnerships instead of ordering for their Closure that is against democratic principles.

The union therefore urged the immediate withdrawal of the order in the interest of democracy,  invariably press freedom