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#EndSARS: Journalists denounce destruction of Lagos courts, press centre
By Emmanuel Awosika
Journalists, under the aegis of National Association of Judicial Correspondents (NAJUC) have condemned the destruction of the State High Court and Magistrate Courts in Lagos by hoodlums during the #EndSARS protests.
While it expressed support for peaceful protests, the association denounced the razing of properties including the NAJUC Press Centre by hoodlums.
“Our press centre within the court premises was badly affected, like office equipment worth several millions of naira, purchased last year through the efforts of our members, were either carted away or burnt down by hoodlums.
“We, therefore, call on the government to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others in the future,” NAJUC Chairman, Peter Fowoyo, said.
Fowoyo charged the government to provide security to journalists, to allow them discharge their duties without compromising their safety.
The NAJUC further asked that Press Centres be set up in courts across the country in order to foster mutual relationships between judiciary and media.
“It is imperative to state that, ironically, journalists in Nigeria, who report about other people’s plights in the society, have no hazard allowance in the course of doing their jobs. Some are even owed salaries for months.
He said: “We, therefore, call on the Federal Government, through the Minister for Information, to review salary structures and allowances of journalists, especially in government-owned media organisations in the country, just as it is doing to the police and other sectors of the economy.”
