INEC tasks journalists on ethical standards

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday urged journalists to operate in line with the ethics of the profession.
The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, represented by Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, gave the advice while delivering a paper at the just-concluded training workshop for journalists in Lokoja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop, tagged: “Effective Coverage and Reportage of 2015 General Elections’’ was organised by the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), in conjunction with UN Development Programme.
According to Jega, the media represents critical stakeholder in the democratic process and their optimal performance is essential to any true democracy.
He said “some have argued that democratic elections are indeed impossible without the media, because of the role they played in the democratic process.
“The media also provide the platform for debates, so that the electorate will be able to make choice based on the programmes of candidates.’’
The INEC boss said that for democracy to thrive in any society, the media must provide the people with information they needed to guide them and safeguard their choices.
Jega said such would go a long way in bringing about healthy democracy in any part of the world.
He urged participants to see it as a duty to always discharge their duties in such a way that would not overheat the polity.
“I urge the media to continue with their role of shaping public opinions and perception of institutions, systems and processes,” Jega added.