The Institute for Media and Society in Nigeria, IMS, has called for a renewed commitment to protect Journalists and promote democracy.
IMS made this known in a statement on Wednesday as it joins the global community in the media and expression stakeholders, in celebrating World Press Freedom Day.
This year’s theme, “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for All Other Human Rights,” according to UNESCO, signifies ‘the enabling element of freedom of expression to enjoy and protect all other human rights.
IMS in its statement said: “While IMS acknowledges that the day is set aside to highlight the importance of free and independent media as a cornerstone of democracy and development, we see in it an opportunity to appreciate the contributions of Journalists and the media, and to seek improvement in their work and conditions.
“In Nigeria, the media has maintained a remarkable level of hard work and resilience, and it has played an important role in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance. Journalists and other professionals have frequently exposed corruption, beamed the searchlight on human rights violations, and reported on public-interest events, issues and trends. In the cause of these constitutionally supported contributions, Journalists have faced obstacles which jeopardise their ability to do their work without fear or favour.
“The obstacles to journalism have become more pronounced in recent times, especially in the electoral process. During Nigeria’s recent elections, Journalists experienced physical attacks, arrests, harassment and intimidation, and denial of access to election activities, among others. These were perpetrated by state and non-state actors.
“There has been the dimension of government regulation. Through the imposition of arbitrary sanctions such as heavy fines, regulatory authorities have made professional work difficult for media professionals and media organisations.
“What of legislation? A large number of anti-media legislations are in the books. They include old, colonial-era laws such as criminal defamation and security legislations such as those on antiterrorism and cybercrime which are used to persecute media professionals. Laws which were enacted to establish government broadcasting outfits contain harsh censorship provisions that hamstring editorial freedom. Equally worrisome is the rash of harsh bills proposed for passage into law in the National Assembly.
“Public policy development is also an area of critical concern. For a long time, there has been no visible policy document for the media and expression sector. In the absence of clear policy direction, arbitrariness and confusion rule in the making and implementation of legislation and regulations. This should not be the case.
“As we mark World Press Freedom Day, IMS urges all stakeholders to recognise the essential role of free and independent media in fostering a well-organised society and a serious democracy.
“We call on the government to: (i) Develop with stakeholders, an up-to-date, International standard public policy for the information sector. (ii) Reform media legislations and broadcasting regulations in consonance with the direction of the Media Policy (iii) make the National Human Rights Protection Action Plan recently approved by the Federal Executive Council publicly available for citizens’ contribution and engagements. (iv) Investigate and address all pending cases of attacks on Journalists and other media professionals including those committed during the recent elections. (v) Remove all obnoxious laws such as those on sedition, criminal defamation etc. (vi) Implement the judgements of the ECOWAS court which mandated the amendments of section 24 of the Cyber Crime Act.
“We salute the media stakeholders in Nigeria for the establishment of a National Media Complaints Commission and implore them to ensure effective management and sustainability even as we enjoin stakeholders to give maximum support to the initiative.
“We call on Journalists and the media to remain resolute in performing their constitutional assigned task of holding the government accountable to the people.”
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