As the world marked World Press Freedom Day yesterday, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, (NGE), has said that the inalienable right to access and disseminate information through an independent press is under attack.
It then called for an urgent need to protect the media, warning that democracy is in danger when the free press is threatened.
In an issued press statement yesterday, signed by the NGE’s President, Mustapha Isah, and its General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, to mark the World Press Freedom Day, the professional group of all the editors in Nigeria said that while the threat to media freedom in Nigeria is real, the impact on the state of democracy in the country will be very dangerous, if not checked.
“Today is a day recognised globally to remind governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among journalists and other media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics.
“We need to remind governments at all levels in Nigeria that a free and independent media that can keep the people informed and hold leaders accountable is essential for a strong and sustainable democracy, including free and fair elections.
“Without it, Nigerians cannot make informed decisions about how they are governed; and address human rights abuses, corruption and abuse of power”, the editors stated.
The Guild said that its members are concerned that elected leaders in Nigeria, who should be press freedom’s dependable protectors, have made several overt attempts to silence the media voices through proposed legislations – that clearly seek to criminalise journalism practice in the country.
The NGE added, “There is an urgent need to protect the media because the impact of the suffocating economic and political environment being created by the government will be very dangerous to our democracy. A threat to the media is a threat to our democracy.
“Governments at all levels must take the lead in making sure that their actions do not inspire violations of press freedom. A democratic society like Nigeria should know that it has a crucial role to play in maintaining media freedom and facilitating access to public information.
“Government should regularly take strong and immediate action against any violations of media freedom – this should include speaking out against violence against journalists and authorities’ failure/refusal to identify and prosecute attackers”.
The NGE also called on the Federal Government to make newsprints, broadcast equipment and all other consumables in the media sector tax-free, in order to save the media from total collapse.
While saluting journalists, pro-media rights groups and others who have remained resolute in the defence of press freedom and independent press in the country, the NGE said that its on-going Town Hall Meeting and Capacity Training Programme for editors in the six geopolitical zones – being sponsored by the US Embassy in Nigeria, have also provided a huge opportunity to remind its members about the ethical values of journalism practice and the need to strictly adhere to those values.
The statement further stated that editors have also resolved to continue to set the agenda for conversation in addressing the major issues affecting the country, including insecurity, political violence and others in the country – by creating different fora for the discussion of the issues by the major stakeholders: the electoral body, civil society groups, security agencies, political parties and the electorate.
