From Magnus Eze, Abuja
Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garba Abari, has decried the pathetic conditions journalists in the country have had to operate, describing the non-payment of salaries and wages in some media organizations as an infringement on press freedom.
He, however, tasked the press to exercise its freedom with a sense of responsibility, stressing that freedom without responsibility would lead to anarchy.
In a goodwill message to mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day, he observed that the Nigerian press came a long way in making valuable contributions to national development, but expressed concern over the rising trend of fake news in both conventional and social media; misinforming the public and generating undue tensions.
He urged the Nigerian press to use the opportunity of the World Press Freedom Day to raise public awareness on the dangers of irresponsible use of the press, which had led to conflicts in some communities and sometimes lured youths to irresponsible behaviour.