Be professional in your reportage, NJI boss charges judiciary reporters

THE Administrator of National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Roseline Bozimo on Tuesday called on judiciary reporters to be fair, objective, honest and be professional in their reportage as politicians approach the courts with grievances after the general elections in February 2019.

Justice Bozimo who gave the charge in Abuja while addressing the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop organised by NJI for Judiciary Correspondents said journalists need to adhere to the ethics of the profession in their reportage and commentaries on contending issues that have the ability to shape the destiny of the country.

She charged judiciary correspondents to see themselves as partners in the growth of the nation’s judiciary, adding also that, “You must be guided by the code of conduct of your profession.”

The NJI boss said the theme of the workshop, “Fostering a cordial working relationship between the judiciary correspondents and the judiciary” was carefully crafted to improve the working synergy between the judiciary and the judiciary correspondents.

“The society relies on you for accurate information on what transpires in our judicial system. Therefore, you must seek to be objective in your reportage, irrespective of your personal beliefs, inclinations and idiosyncrasies,” Justice Bozimo added.

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She commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen for his unflinching commitment and dedication to the growth and development of the judiciary of the country.

Earlier in address, the Abuja chapter chairman of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), Barrister Tunde Oyesina of the New Telegraph newspaper called for improved budgetary allocation for the judiciary.

In his words, “Although, the economic situation of the country has not been friendly, it will, however, not be out of place to appeal to the Federal Government, especially the Executive arm to increase the allocation to the judiciary and ensure prompt release of such allocation as at when due.”

This, he said is because of the role the judiciary plays in sustaining the democracy of the country.

To enable the judiciary to cope with this enormous tasks of handling cases that may arise from the forthcoming general elections, the NAJUC chairman stressed the need for the judiciary to be well funded to train judicial officers and their supporting staff, and where possible, appoint more judges.

Oyesina commended the NJI boss foe her efforts in uplifting the standard of media practice, especially on the judiciary beat.

“As judiciary correspondents, we are ever ready to work with the judiciary to the extent of reporting court proceedings in an objective and unbias manner,” he said.