The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has described 2024 as the worst economic year in Nigeria’s history and an unpleasant one, particularly for journalists in the country.
In a statement entitled “Year 2024 a challenging year but cause for optimism in 2025,” the NUJ expressed regrets over the series of attacks and harassment journalists faced from state and non-state actors in 2024.
The union, in the statement issued on Thursday and signed by its National Secretary, Achike Chude, also reflected on the country’s struggles over the past year while urging political leaders to prioritize the welfare of citizens and national development.
It emphasised that hope and optimism alone could not build a nation, stressing the need for effective policies and governance.
The NUJ thereby called on political leaders to harness the remaining hope among Nigerians for national development.
It further noted that while Nigeria has experienced some progress in recent years, 2024 was particularly challenging due to insecurity, rising petroleum prices, inflation, unemployment, and other economic hardships.
The union also highlighted the tragic deaths of over 100 citizens due to a stampede for food items as a low point in Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
Looking ahead to 2025, the NUJ urged Nigeria’s political leaders to rise above mediocrity, prioritise national development, and address the basic welfare and problems of the people.
The union stressed the importance of implementing well-formulated policies that address the root causes of the country’s challenges.
“As we look into the year 2024 with some measure of hope and optimism, we are very much aware that hope and optimism, though essential for rallying and mobilising social capital for national development, do not build nations.
“Though Nigeria has witnessed some pockets of modest strides in her national outlook over the years, considering the nature and character of the Nigerian state in the last two decades, lovers of our country and common patrimony will find it difficult to pick out a period within this time and space that will not be described as our Anno Horribillis,” the statement noted.
It continued, “The year 2024 was a very bad representation of the equally difficult periods that citizens have had to grapple with in the last two decades, perhaps very much so.
“Insecurity, the phenomenal rise in the prices of petroleum products, inflation, unsold inventories in our factories, unemployment and other economic negatives all contributed to the exacerbation of social tensions in the country in year 2024.
“The recent unfortunate deaths of over a hundred of our citizens in various parts of the country caused by the stampede to have access to food items perhaps marked the lowest point in our country’s socio-economic development.
“We also cannot forget that 2024 was a particularly difficult year for journalists and the practice of journalism as the profession witnessed series of attacks and harassments from state and non-state actors.”
“As we move gradually into 2025, we hope that our political elites, especially those saddled with governance at all levels will realise the importance of fully harnessing the little hope that is left in our people for national development.
“The NUJ is calling on the nation’s leaders to rise above the mediocrity and negative sentiments that continue to characterise the discharge of their responsibilities.
“They must, as matter of absolute priority come up with a proper elitist consensus on a national ethos for governance and development.
“But this must be driven by the Nigerian people who have the potential to become a much stronger political force capable of eschewing those divisive elements that place us in ethnic, religious, and geo-political categories.
“Nigerians have proven that they can operate and interact better among themselves without these parochial cleavages and proclivities.
“Nations are built on the back of policies that have undergone proper rigour during the period of formulation and laced with practical consideration for the welfare of the people.
“Afterall, the sole purpose of government and governance is the welfare of the people. Any government that continuously fails to address the basic welfare and problems of the people will only create problems for itself and exacerbate social tensions.
“As Nigerians, we have the potential to make 2025 better than the preceding year. As journalists, we have the mandate to hold our politicians accountable in a manner that is just, bold, and equally accountable.
“The Nigeria Union of Journalists wishes Nigerians a brighter, optimistic, and prosperous 2025,” the statement said.
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