The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday in Abuja condemned the bomb blasts that rocked newspaper houses in Abuja and Kaduna, saying the attacks were ''tragic and cowardly''.
The Secretary of the congress, Mr Owei Lakemfa, who said this at a press briefing, noted that media houses were elements of progress and should not be objects of attacks.
He said the media was critical to ensuring good governance and development anywhere in the world, adding that it should be allowed to play a vanguard role.
“It is quite tragic that anybody would think of targeting the media because all over the world, for any country to have democracy and development, the media must play a vanguard role.
“It is therefore quite unacceptable that anybody or group will target the media.
“The Nigerian media has a long history of patriotism and commitment to our country.
“Journalists were amongst the nationalists who fought against colonialism and for Nigeria’s independence, and they played significant roles in the struggles against dictatorship especially during the military regime.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress condemns totally these cowardly attacks on the media.
“We ask the Federal Government to provide adequate security not just for media houses, but also for journalists whose jobs are quite fundamental for our country to run.”
The NLC secretary observed a minute’s silence for all those who died in the twin bomb attacks.
The suicide bomber forced his way onto the premises of ThisDay Newspapers at Jabi, in Utako District of FCT in Abuja on Thursday and set off an explosive, killing himself and two others.
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