The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has thrown its weight behind the efforts of the Federal Government to recover stolen public funds and commended the courage behind it.
While urging the government to respect the fundamental human rights of the suspects in the process, the Guild asked the government to thoroughly investigate every corruption case and pursue same diligently and to logical conclusion.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its 4th quarterly Standing Committee meeting, weekend, in Abuja, the guild advised judges to be circumspect in granting injunctions and be more painstaking in the adjudication of corruption cases.
The guild, in the communiqué signed by its President, Garba Deen Mohammad and General Secretary, Victoria Ibanga, further warned state governments not to renege in the payment of the N18,000 minimum wage and urged them to improve on their internally generated revenue, reduce the cost of governance and ensure due process in the award of contracts.
According the communique, ”The Guild is alarmed by the downward slide of the Naira which is impacting negatively on the purchasing power of Nigerians and wants the Federal Government to diversify the country’s revenue base to shore up the value of the national currency.
“The Guild also noted with concern the perennial fuel scarcity in the country and called on the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the problem.”
While reiterating its warning against any attempt to gag the press or tamper with the freedom of expression of Nigerians, the editors urged the Senate to retrace its steps with respect to the Frivolous Petitions Bill which is against the freedom of the press.
The editors, therefore, urged the National Assembly to expunge Section 24 of the Cyber Crime Act which is considered to be more obnoxious than the Frivolous Petitions Bill.
