* Cautions The Broadcast Commission Over Anti-Media Policies
By Chinwendu Agoha (Media & Governance Reporter)
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has debunked the impression created by the nation's broadcast regulatory agency, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that media practitioners in Nigeria were indirectly aiding the activities of terrorists and bandit elements through undue publicity.
The Editors Guild, while reacting to what it described as a "terrific insinuation" on the part of the NBC, however made it clear to the Commission, that journalists, especially its members, are not terrorists and bandits’ best friends, and therefore, will never be disposed to giving the bloodthirsty criminals any exposure.
The NGE's reaction was contained in a strong statement on Wednesday by its President, Mustapha Isah and Secretary General, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, stating that the fact that journalists have a responsibility to help the country cope with the prevailing threat and consequences of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism in Nigeria, will not make them abandon their ethical principles of responsible, responsive, accurate, fair and balanced reportage.
The professional group of all the editors in Nigeria expressed their concern over the recent directive by the NBC, warning journalists, television and radio stations in Nigeria against “glamorising and giving too many details on the nefarious activities of terrorists and kidnappers” during their daily newspaper reviews.
In a directive, titled “Newspaper Reviews And Current Affairs Programmes: A Need For Caution’’, signed by the Director, Broadcast Monitoring, Francisca Aiyetan, on behalf of the new Director-General of the Commission, Balarabe IIeah, the regulatory agency had cautioned broadcasters against glamorising and giving too many details on the nefarious activities of terrorists and kidnappers during their daily newspaper reviews.
The NGE said the directive is unhelpful, describing it a subtle threat to free press, freedom of expression, access to information, and victims’ right to justice, which are essential to public debate and accountability in a democratic space.
The Guild also added that giving the consistent anti-media policy of NBC in recent times, its members are concerned about what the commission means by the expansive definitions of what may constitute ‘’too many details’’, ‘’glamorising’’, ‘’divisive rhetoric’’, and ‘’security issues’’ in its directive.
‘’We hope it is not a ploy by the NBC to ban newspapers review in broadcasting stations. Because, the content of the directive doesn’t specify what kind of conduct would fall within their realm. It is our view that the role of independent, critical, and trustworthy journalism has never been more important than now in our country’’, the Guild explained.
The group stated that the Nigerian media are very mindful of their responsibility in the current collective efforts to address the security challenges in the country, adding that the relationship between the security agencies and the media has been more respectful and trustful along this mission in the past few years.
NGE added, ‘’While we are mindful of our responsibility at this trying moment of our nation, we must also not lose ability to see that security, in a democratic nation, is not an end in itself.
‘’Its single purpose is to protect the capability of institutions, including the media, to guarantee citizens the free exercise of their fundamental human rights, without discrimination.
‘’History has revealed time and again that efforts to increase security through the clampdown of liberty and freedom have threatened both liberty and security.”
NGE reiterated that there is no security without free media and free expression, and no free expression and free media without security, saying these two terms should come hand in hand and not fight each other in the general interest of the nation. NNL.
