Council urges fact-checking, ethical journalism, youth mentorship, stronger welfare and protection of NYSC members
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has charged journalists to uphold professional ethics, accuracy and responsible reporting ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Council made the call at its October 2026 Congress in Abuja, where members deliberated on issues affecting the welfare of journalists, the media industry and the nation.
Congress urged journalists and media organisations to exercise caution in gathering, verifying and publishing political information, particularly reports capable of inflaming tensions or misleading the public.
It stressed the need for journalists to fact-check information before publication and give relevant parties the opportunity to respond to allegations, noting that reports must remain accurate, balanced, fair and in the public interest.
The Congress also urged members to adhere strictly to the NUJ Code of Ethics and other professional standards governing journalism.
It expressed concern over the practice of some journalists taking professional disputes involving colleagues directly to security agencies and other external institutions without first exhausting the Union’s internal mechanisms.
Members were therefore encouraged to make greater use of the NUJ Ethics and Disciplinary Committee to resolve professional and ethical disputes within the journalism community.
Congress also commended the leadership of the FCT Council under Comrade Grace Ike for its interventions on members’ welfare, particularly ongoing efforts to improve access to health insurance.
A member who spoke during the Congress appreciated the Council’s intervention, saying journalists were already benefiting from the initiative.
The Congress further called for greater participation of younger journalists in Union activities and advocated structured mentorship programmes through which experienced practitioners could transfer professional knowledge, skills and ethical values to younger journalists.
Meanwhile, the Congress deliberated on issues surrounding the regulation and certification of products manufactured in Nigeria.
Speaking during the deliberations, Felix Ojo called for greater clarity and coordination among regulatory agencies, particularly regarding the role of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in ensuring that locally manufactured products meet required standards.
Congress stressed the importance of effective regulation, quality control and consumer protection, while urging authorities to support legitimate Nigerian manufacturers.
On the 2027 elections, Princess Halima Jubril urged journalists to exercise professionalism and caution in covering political activities.
She called for thorough fact-checking before publication and warned against cyberbullying, inflammatory reports and the misuse of social media platforms.
According to her, journalists should allow professional ethics to guide their coverage of political actors and campaigns in order to avoid unnecessary legal and professional challenges.
The Congress also commended security agencies for their efforts in rescuing members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) reportedly targeted while travelling to their orientation camp.
However, members called for stronger measures to protect corps members and other young Nigerians travelling to and from their places of deployment.
Congress urged journalists, political actors, security agencies and other stakeholders to work towards a peaceful electoral environment ahead of the 2027 elections.
It resolved to strengthen professional ethics, promote fact-checking, encourage the use of the NUJ Ethics and Disciplinary Committee, develop mentorship programmes for younger journalists and sustain welfare interventions.
It also resolved to promote responsible use of social media, discourage cyberbullying and inflammatory content, encourage balanced and credible coverage of the 2027 electoral process, and advocate stronger protection for NYSC members and other vulnerable citizens.
The Congress reaffirmed the commitment of the NUJ FCT Council to press freedom, professional journalism, journalists’ welfare, ethical standards and the public interest.
