A statement signed by the Chapel Chairman, Aminu Ahmad Garko of News Agency of Nigeria, noted that, “despite our efforts to engage with the government and its agents to address these issues, we have seen no improvement in the situation.”
Members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents’ Chapel in Kano announced the boycott of activities involving the state government about a week ago.
The declaration of the media blackout has raised concerns over the reason that could have caused the two important partners to part ways. Daily Trust on Sunday looks at the issues at play and reports.
A statement signed by the chairman of the chapel, Aminu Ahmad Garko shortly after an emergency congress revealed that the basis of the journalists’ grouse had to do with alleged maltreatment, disregard, lack of conducive atmosphere to practice and welfare.
A part of the journalists’ grouse is said to be an alleged “persistent and unacceptable maltreatment of members of the chapel in the state by the government and its agents while discharging their primary assignment.
The resolution further reads: “Despite our efforts to engage with the government and its officials to address these issues, we have seen no improvement in the situation.
“Members of the chapel continue to face harassment, intimidation, and even physical assault while performing their duties.
“It is particularly concerning that the government has prioritised non-professionals over trained journalists, making it a state policy to sideline those who are best equipped to handle the job.
“As a result, we regret to announce that we will no longer participate in press conferences, cover government events, or conduct interviews with state officials until we see a tangible commitment to press freedom and the safety of journalists.”
The chapel therefore urged all members to comply with the directive and join the protest in Kano State.
“We believe that a free and independent press is essential to a functioning democracy, and we will not stand idly by while our members are mistreated and intimidated,” the resolution concluded.
Sharing their experiences while covering their primary assignments, some of the correspondents lamented how some political appointees usually looked down on them and treated them without any regard.
“There was a day when we went to cover the government assignment. I was sitting alongside my colleagues at the Africa House waiting for the governor to come in for a programme and this senior special assistant came around and asked me to vacate my seat and called someone else to occupy it.
“I queried if the seat was purposely kept for the man but he said there was no available seat and the man shouldn’t be left standing. To avoid any further issues, I stood up and left.
“It was something that I still can’t forget because the SSA was not even my age mate and upon all the clusters of people in the hall, it was the journalists that he chose to approach,” another official of the chapel said.
On her part, a female member said, “My experience was different. I am one of the journalists who covered the election petition tribunal sittings in the state. One day when the court had gone on a break session and was about to resume, this senior official of the government arrived and he did not ask any of the legal practitioners in the court room to give him a seat, it was me he chose to ask to leave my seat.
“It was an order he gave me to vacate the place for him which I found very offensive and this is someone that I knew and he knew me also. I, alongside some of my colleagues, had to protest before he allowed me to maintain my seat.
“What pissed me off was the fact that I attend the court every day covering the challenging assignment while he just chose that very day to attend.”
Also, some cameramen and multimedia journalists shared their experiences. They lamented how social media fellows appointed by the government took over their places, thereby creating a challenging atmosphere for them to operate in.
They lamented over how government appointees – mostly aides to the governor – would be interrupting their coverage with their phones, hitting them and causing them to end up with a bunch of shaky clips.
“And if you drew their attention to the problem, they tell you that they are also journalists doing the same job with you. Some will not even look at you, making it look like you are an intruder. Some will tell you that what they are doing is more important than yours because they are feeding the world live and they are working for the government,” one of the cameraman said.
“My brother, we just don’t have a choice, but I have mixed feelings and had to get prepared whenever I am covering this government; especially the governor’s assignment because you will have to get ready to fight those social media reporters or do what you can do and let them be,” another pointed out.
The issue of social and media related appointments in the state government has from inception raised concerns among members of the press and the general public whereby the ministries and parastatals were assigned at least two political appointees as senior special reporters (SSR) and special reporters (SR).
Unfortunately, many have assumed their roles to be rivalry with the public relations officers and information officers’ and, by extension, the journalists and were therefore creating a challenge to conducive work atmosphere.
Similarly, how these appointees are treated has been an issue as they appear to enjoy greater priority than practicing professionals as pointed out by the chapel.
“For the first time, the Kano State Government has sponsored its media team for the 2024 Hajj without a practicing journalist but social media fellows, which shows how important they are in the government. It’s really discouraging although it’s not an entitlement. The government can send whoever it wishes,” a correspondent further highlighted.
However, as the friction between the government and the chapel lingers, another issue gathered by this reporter suggests that the government has neglected the welfare of the members as their allowances are no longer coming for months and even on the occasion of event coverage, mostly nothing or little is given for welfare and troubles of covering events.
Gov’t moves to resolve issues
After the boycott, some top government officials reached out to the chapel to resolve the issues but the body rejected what it feels were attempts to blackmail or cover up some excesses therefore instead demanded audience with the governor.
Halilu Baba Dantiye, the commissioner for Information also visited the Press Centre in company of some government officials and sat with the members recently.
Dantiye said Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration acknowledged the importance of a free and independent press in a democratic society and assured journalists of its willingness to address their concerns.
He said he would listen to the grievances of members of the chapel for onward report and recommendations to the governor.
According to Dantiye, the governor had expressed concern over the development and directed him to immediately meet with the members of the chapel for an amicable resolution of the matter.
“I want to first of all convey the goodwill of the governor, who also expressed readiness for the amicable resolution of the matter. As a member of the State Executive Council and commissioner for Information, I have a stake in meeting you on behalf of the government.
“After the deliberation, I assure you that I will write a comprehensive report and recommendations to the governor.
“This will culminate into a bigger meeting, hopefully with His Excellency to hear directly from you and take a stance.
“I am very happy about how you received me. The meeting was indeed fruitful and by God’s grace, we would reach the Promised Land.”
The Correspondents’ Chapel leadership, led by its Chairman, Aminu Ahmad Garko, appreciated the government’s gesture and reiterated their commitment to professional and factual reporting.
Garko expressed happiness over the state government’s willingness to address the concerns of the members of the chapel.
He said the meeting, slated for Tuesday evening, is expected to pave the way for another round of meetings towards resolving the issue at stake.
“We are still on our stand of not participating in all government affairs be it from the state executive, legislature or judiciary as well as emirate and 44 LGAs of the state,” he stated.
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