World Press Freedom Day: NGE Seeks End To Harassment, Review Of Broadcasting Code |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, has condemned attempts by the Federal Government at muzzling the media.

In its message to mark this year’s World Press freedom day, the Guild urged Governments at all levels in Nigeria to value information as a public good and treat the conveyors of information as partners, instead of seeing them as enemies.

“The Media is a partner and a critical stakeholder in the national project. The media played a major role in the struggle for Independence and enthronement of  democracy.

In a statement signed by the President and secretary, Mustapha Isah and Mary Atolagbe, the Guild emphasised that “The Media cannot suddenly transform to agents of destruction of the institutions it helped to build.

“Information as a public good is the wheel that drives democracy and its attendant virtues including openness, free speech and other forms of civil liberties.

“The harassment of the media by the National Broadcasting Commission, the police, DSS and other state actors should stop.

“The Guild calls for a review of the National Broadcasting Code and all other media statutes, to bring them in tune with democracy and the promotion of free speech.

“The Body of Editors urges the Nigerian government to, at all times, strive to protect the media. It is only then that ‘Information as a Public Good’ would become relevant.

Stop the detention, impunity, harassment and killing of journalists. Our product (Information) is a public good.

“The Guild aligns with the UN and other world bodies in calling for the release of all journalists in detention. Nigeria, and indeed the world, needs a free press to promote democracy, effectively report the pandemic and other issues threatening human existence, including insecurity.

“The Guild commends the Federal and State governments as well as all relevant health institutions and personnel for their spirited efforts at containing the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The NGE, particularly, celebrates journalists in the frontline of Covid-19 pandemic coverage as well as those charged with the responsibility of reporting crime and security, at a time like this when the nation is struggling to contain the scourge of insecurity.

“The Guild urges media owners, the private sector and the government, to provide special protection for journalists, as most of them are often neglected and exposed to sundry challenge, that not only impair their ability to discharge their duties, but also imperil their lives, culminating, in some cases, to untimely deaths.”

On the theme for this year’s celebration, which is “Information as a Public Good,” the Editors body pointed out that “it highlights the necessity of governments, state actors and the private sector to recognise the value of information as a critical element in leadership and service delivery.

“Much more, the theme places a great deal of responsibility on governments across the world to accord respect to journalists, the conveyors and disseminators of information, as partners in development, and not as enemies of the state.

“Journalists across the world face grave challenges and dangers in the discharge of their duties. Some have paid the supreme price while others have been harassed and jailed for doing their lawful duty.

“This is because most governments still perceive journalists as intruders into the public space.”