NUJ FCT Congress Raises Alarm Over Product Regulation, NYSC Security, 2027 Elections By Raymond Enoch
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has raised concerns over the regulation of locally manufactured products, the safety of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and the need for responsible journalism ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The issues formed part of the major resolutions reached at the October 2026 Congress of the NUJ FCT Council in Abuja, where journalists deliberated extensively on the state of the nation, the media industry and matters affecting the welfare of practitioners.
On the regulation of locally manufactured products, Congress called for greater clarity and coordination among government agencies responsible for standards, certification and consumer protection.
Speaking during the Congress, Felix Ojo questioned the role of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in ensuring that products manufactured locally meet required standards, stressing the need for effective regulation without unnecessarily frustrating legitimate Nigerian manufacturers.
Congress maintained that effective quality control and consumer protection remained critical to strengthening confidence in locally produced goods and supporting Nigeria’s industrial development.
On the security situation involving members of the NYSC, the Congress commended security agencies for their efforts in rescuing corps members reportedly targeted while travelling to their orientation camp.
It, however, 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.
Congress stressed that the safety of NYSC members and other vulnerable young Nigerians should remain a priority for security authorities.
The FCT journalists also turned their attention to the 2027 elections, warning practitioners against becoming conduits for misinformation, inflammatory political content and unverified allegations.
Princess Halima Jubril urged journalists to exercise caution and professionalism in reporting political activities, insisting that facts must be verified before publication.
She also cautioned against cyberbullying, inflammatory publications and the misuse of social media, urging journalists to allow professional ethics and sound judgment to guide their coverage of political actors and campaigns.
The Congress called on journalists and media organisations to uphold the highest standards of professional and ethical journalism as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections.
It specifically urged practitioners to give all relevant parties a fair opportunity to respond to allegations and ensure that reports are accurate, balanced, fair and in the public interest.
Beyond the state of the nation, the Congress examined internal professional issues within the Union, including the handling of disputes among journalists.
Congress expressed concern over the tendency of some members to take disputes involving fellow practitioners directly to security agencies and other external institutions without first exhausting the Union’s internal mechanisms.
It consequently urged members to utilise the NUJ Ethics and Disciplinary Committee as an established platform for resolving professional and ethical disagreements within the journalism community.
The Congress also commended the FCT Council leadership under its chairmanship of Comrade Grace Ike for interventions on issues affecting members, particularly ongoing efforts to improve access to health insurance and other welfare initiatives.
A member who spoke during the Congress expressed appreciation for the Council’s intervention on health insurance, noting that journalists were already benefiting from the initiative.
Congress further called for greater participation of younger journalists in Union activities and urged the Council to develop initiatives capable of attracting more young practitioners to Congress meetings.
It also advocated structured mentorship programmes through which experienced journalists could transfer professional knowledge, skills and ethical values to younger practitioners.
At the end of the deliberations, Congress resolved to strengthen adherence to professional ethics, promote fact-checking, encourage responsible use of social media, sustain welfare interventions and improve the protection of journalists.
It also resolved to promote balanced and credible coverage of the 2027 electoral process, encourage stronger protection for NYSC members and other vulnerable citizens, and continue engagement with government agencies and stakeholders on issues affecting journalists, the media and Nigerian society.
The FCT Council reaffirmed its commitment to press freedom, professional journalism, journalists’ welfare, ethical standards and the public interest.
