The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has called on journalists and media organisations to practise responsible reporting as the country approaches the 2027 general elections, warning against inflammatory content and unverified claims.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Council’s October 2026 Congress on Saturday in Abuja, where members discussed the welfare of journalists, the state of the Union, the nation and the practice of journalism.
Congress urged members to “uphold the highest standards of professional and ethical journalism” as political activities intensified.
Members were asked to be careful in gathering, verifying and publishing political information, particularly content that could inflame tensions, mislead the public or undermine peaceful democratic participation.
The communiqué stressed that journalists should verify facts before publication and give all relevant parties a fair chance to respond to allegations.
It also reiterated the importance of the NUJ Code of Ethics and encouraged members to ensure their reports are “accurate, balanced, fair and in the public interest.”
Congress asked journalists, political actors, security agencies and other stakeholders to help create a peaceful electoral environment. Journalists were told to “avoid unverified claims” and to refrain from publications that could escalate political tensions.
The Union reminded members that their duty is to “inform the public accurately” and give citizens the credible information they need to make informed decisions.
Speaking during the Congress, Princess Halima Jubril urged journalists to be professional in their coverage of political activities and to verify facts before publishing.
She advised them to ensure their reports do not expose themselves or their organisations to avoidable legal or professional difficulties.
She also cautioned against cyberbullying, inflammatory publications and the misuse of social media, saying journalists should let professional ethics guide their coverage of political actors and campaigns.
Congress also raised concern over the tendency of some members to take disputes involving fellow journalists to security agencies and other external institutions “without first exhausting the Union’s internal mechanisms.”
Members were urged to channel such matters through the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of the Council, which the communiqué described as an established platform for handling complaints and disagreements among practitioners.
Congress commended the FCT Council leadership under Chairman Grace Ike for its interventions on issues affecting members, including ongoing efforts on health insurance.
A member who spoke at the meeting expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting that members were already benefiting from it.
Members also called for greater participation of younger journalists in Union activities and asked the Council to develop initiatives that will draw more young practitioners to Congress meetings.
They advocated structured mentorship programmes in which experienced journalists pass on knowledge, skills and ethical values to younger colleagues.
On national issues, Congress expressed concern over the regulation and certification of products manufactured in Nigeria.
Felix Ojo, Chairman Correspondents Chapel, called for greater clarity and coordination among regulatory agencies and questioned the role of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in ensuring that locally made products meet required standards.
Congress stressed effective regulation, quality control and consumer protection, while supporting policies that help legitimate Nigerian manufacturers.
Congress also commended security agencies for rescuing members of the National Youth Service Corps who were reportedly targeted while travelling to their orientation camp.
It called for stronger measures to protect corps members travelling to and from their places of deployment, stressing that their safety “must remain a priority” for security authorities.
At the end of the meeting, Congress resolved to strengthen adherence to professional ethics, encourage the verification of all political and sensitive reports before publication, and promote use of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee.
It also resolved to develop mentorship initiatives, sustain welfare interventions including health insurance access, discourage cyberbullying and inflammatory content, and promote balanced and credible coverage of the 2027 electoral process.
Congress reaffirmed the commitment of the NUJ FCT Council to press freedom, professional journalism, journalists’ welfare, ethical standards and the public interest.
