By Gloria Ikibah
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has urged journalists to exercise greater caution in gathering, verifying and publishing political information ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The call was made at the October 2026 Congress of the NUJ FCT Council in Abuja, where members deliberated on issues affecting journalists, the Union, the media profession and the wider Nigerian society. 
The Congress warned journalists against publishing unverified information, particularly reports capable of inflaming tensions, misleading the public or undermining peaceful democratic participation.
It emphasised the need for journalists to fact-check information before publication and give all relevant parties a fair opportunity to respond to allegations.
Congress also reiterated the importance of compliance with the NUJ Code of Ethics and other professional standards, urging members to ensure that their reports remain accurate, balanced, fair and in the public interest.
On professional disputes within the journalism community, the Congress expressed concern over the tendency of some journalists to take disagreements involving fellow practitioners directly to security agencies and other external institutions without first exhausting the Union’s internal mechanisms.
It therefore urged members to make greater use of the NUJ Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of the Council to resolve professional and ethical disputes.
“Members were reminded that the existence of the committee provides an established platform for addressing complaints and disagreements among practitioners in accordance with the principles and procedures of the Union,” the communiqué stated.
The Congress also commended the FCT Council leadership under its chairmanship, particularly its interventions on issues affecting journalists, including ongoing efforts to improve members’ access to health insurance and other welfare initiatives.
A member who spoke during the Congress expressed appreciation to the Council for its intervention on health insurance, noting that members were already benefiting from the initiative.
The Congress, however, called for greater participation of younger journalists in Union activities and urged the Council to introduce initiatives capable of attracting more young practitioners to Congress meetings.
Members also advocated structured mentorship programmes through which experienced journalists could transfer professional knowledge, skills and ethical values to younger practitioners.
According to the Congress, strengthening mentorship will help develop the next generation of journalists and promote professionalism across the industry.
Regulation of locally made products
The Congress also expressed concern over issues surrounding the regulation and certification of products manufactured in Nigeria.
Speaking on recent developments involving locally produced goods, Felix Ojo called for greater clarity and coordination among regulatory agencies.
He particularly questioned the role of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in ensuring that locally manufactured products meet required standards.
The Congress stressed the importance of effective regulation, quality control and consumer protection, while calling for policies that would support legitimate Nigerian manufacturers.
Journalists warned against cyberbullying
On preparations for the 2027 elections, Princess Halima Jubril urged journalists to exercise caution and professionalism in their coverage of political activities.
She stressed the importance of fact-checking reports before publication and warned journalists against exposing themselves or their organisations to avoidable legal and professional difficulties.
She also cautioned against cyberbullying, inflammatory publications and the misuse of social media platforms.
According to her, journalists should apply wisdom in their reporting and allow professional ethics to guide their coverage of political actors and campaigns.
The Congress also commended Nigerian security agencies for their efforts in rescuing members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) reportedly targeted while travelling to their orientation camp.
Members expressed concern over attacks involving young Nigerians participating in the national service programme and called for stronger measures to protect corps members travelling to and from their places of deployment.
The Congress stressed that the safety of NYSC members and other young Nigerians must remain a priority for relevant security authorities.
It also called on journalists, political actors, security agencies and other stakeholders to contribute to a peaceful electoral environment ahead of the 2027 elections.
Journalists, it said, must report political activities responsibly, avoid unverified claims and refrain from publications capable of escalating political tensions.
“Congress also reminded members that their responsibility as journalists is to inform the public accurately and provide citizens with credible information needed to make informed decisions.”
At the end of its deliberations, the Congress resolved to strengthen adherence to professional ethics and responsible journalism among members and encourage journalists to fact-check political and other sensitive reports before publication.
It also resolved to promote the use of the NUJ Ethics and Disciplinary Committee in resolving professional disputes, develop mentorship initiatives for younger journalists and sustain welfare interventions, including efforts to improve access to health insurance.
Other resolutions included promoting responsible use of social media by journalists, discouraging cyberbullying and inflammatory content, and ensuring balanced, fair and credible coverage of the 2027 electoral process.
The Congress further called on relevant authorities to strengthen the protection of NYSC members and other vulnerable citizens.
It urged government agencies to promote effective regulation and quality assurance of products manufactured in Nigeria while ensuring that legitimate local manufacturers were not unduly hindered.
The NUJ FCT Council also resolved to continue engaging government agencies and other stakeholders on issues affecting journalists, the media and Nigerian society.
Congress reaffirmed the commitment of the NUJ FCT Council to the promotion of press freedom, professional journalism, journalists’ welfare, ethical standards and the public interest.
