ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, has tasked members of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, to use their influence, reach, and investigative capacities to educate Nigerians about judicial processes to enhance their understanding of legal matters and pronouncements from the courts.
Significance of the NGE
NGE is a non-governmental organisation, nonpartisan, and non-profit making organization for the highest strata of working journalists who have attained the exalted position of editors in the journalism profession.
To help Nigerian media practitioners uphold the tenet and ethics of journalism, NGE develops, publishes, and distributes brief editing guides to journalists and organizes career linkage programs with local and foreign partners to build the professional capacity of its members.
CAEPI
In a document on its Citizens’ Action to End Poverty and Injustice (CAEPI) initiative and made available to delegates at the 20th National Conference of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria, AAN said CAEPI is a bold commitment to tackle poverty and social injustice through collective action with social movements.
Citing some court cases arising from the 2023 general election, such as the sack of some elected members of the Plateau State House of Assembly, and members of the national assembly from the PDP and replacing them with candidates of the APC, passing judgment in favor of Ahmed Lawan in the case of Bashir Sheriff Machina vs Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, Then Senate President.
“The presidential election petitions filed against APC and President Tinubu by Abubakar Atiku and Peter Obi presents a case filed with several issues which left citizens more confused than convinced that the tribunal was unbiased in its decision”.
ActionAid Nigeria said that to help Nigerians better understand judgments considering that they play a crucial role in shaping public opinion.
“Through their reach and influence, they can help bring attention to issues surrounding judicial accountability, ensuring these topics reach a broader audience. By partnering with the NGE, ActionAid can gain visibility and foster a greater public understanding of judicial reform needs.”
The document states that the complex interplay between political, economic, and institutional factors that shape the functioning of the judiciary, particularly in handling election disputes helps to understand the urgency for intervention by social movements, CSOs, and the media to hold the Judiciary accountable.
Judicial accountability
AAN is confident that engaging with the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) can significantly enhance its efforts in its judicial accountability programs in diverse ways.
“Editors play a crucial role in shaping public opinion. Through their reach and influence, they can help bring attention to issues surrounding judicial accountability, ensuring these topics reach a broader audience. By partnering with the NGE, ActionAid can gain visibility and foster a greater public understanding of judicial reform needs.”
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The organization added that editors in the NGE are skilled at presenting complex information clearly and compellingly.
“They can help convey the nuances of judicial accountability, including technical details and case studies, in ways that resonate with the general public and policymakers alike, supporting ActionAid’s advocacy goals”.
Editors can also contribute by strengthening narrative and credibility which serve as the catalyst for Policy reform, and use their investigative skills to uncover and report on judicial corruption or misconduct.
AAN concludes that collaborative efforts with members of the Nigeria Guild of Editors could help ActionAid expose issues within the judicial system, providing concrete examples that justify reform at the same time leverage media influence to mobilize public opinion, elevate discussions on judicial accountability, and push for meaningful reforms.
20th National conference
In a press statement prior to the conference opening, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba the General Secretary Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, said Vice-President Kashim Shettima, public and private industry players, and other media experts will be speaking on “Strategics for viable/sustainable media financing, opportunities and challenges in Al-generated storytelling, and other emerging issues in global journalism practice.’’
The Leadership of the guild in the statement added that its 20th National conference scheduled for November 7-9, is attracting over 350 editors and media executives across the country, the NGE explained that since the present government came on board on May 29, 2023, its agents had consistently argued that the federal government had been pursuing audacious reforms to reconstruct macro-economic situations it met on ground, for stability and development.
According to the editors, “Their argument is that the petrol fiscal subsidy was moderately jettisoned initially, and foreign exchange reforms had led to the unification of the markets and a market-reflective exchange rate.
“To address these economic challenges and achieve development, there is a near consensus among all stakeholders that Nigeria needs to push for a wide-ranging and comprehensible set of policies and strategies that will address both the short-term and long-term issues,’’ the NGE added.
On media viability and sustainability, the professional body of editors stated that there is a growing view that media stakeholders should come out with mechanisms to support the media industry – for individual publishers and the sector as a whole, by ensuring they receive fair compensation for the use of their intellectual property and content.
According to the statement, ‘’The argument is that mechanisms should adjust to evolving market conditions and boost the likelihood that publishers can build diverse revenue streams.”
Focus of the conference
“It is within this context that this year’s ANEC will focus on strategies and policies aimed at addressing the challenges of the nation’s economy and the media space. Key experts, actors and players – from various sectors – will be invited to start conversation on the best possible way out of these challenges.’’
The annual conference, which was initiated in 2004, will also witness the induction of 12 new editors.
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