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.
The union made this known in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Achike Chude, on Thursday, expressing regrets over the series of attacks and harassment journalists faced from state and non-state actors in 2024.
The union in the statement titled: “Year 2024 a challenging year but cause for optimism in 2025,” called on political leaders to harness the remaining hope among Nigerians for national development.
While it emphasised that hope and optimism alone cannot build a nation, the union stressed the need for effective policies and good governance.
The NUJ noted that Nigeria has experienced some progress in recent years, but that 2024 was particularly challenging due to insecurity, rising petroleum prices, inflation, unemployment, and other economic difficulties.
The union also highlighted the recent deaths of over 100 citizens due to a stampede for food items as a low point in Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
The statement reads: “As the year 2024 grinds inexorably to its inevitable conclusion the Nigeria Union of Journalists is not unmindful of the challenges and difficulties experienced in 2024 by the vast majority of our citizens.
“Once asked about her thoughts on a particulaly bad year for the royal family, then British Queen Elizabeth had responded soberly and sombrely that it was ‘Anno Horribilis’, a euphemism to describe the turmoil in the royal household.
“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 mobilizing 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.
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“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 excercabation 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 harrassments 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 pratical consideration for the welfare of the people.
“Afterall, the sole purpose of government and governance is the welfare of the people. Any government that continuosly fails to address the basic welfare and problems of the people will only create problems for itself and excercebate 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.”
