NGE Expresses Concern Over Plethora of Anti-media/Free Speech Laws

·    Inaugurates committee to engage AGF, National Assembly, information ministry

Concerned about the plethora of obnoxious and anti-media laws in Nigeria’s legal books, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has inaugurated a five-man committee to work with the office of Minister of Information and National Orientation, National Assembly, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Minister of Justice, and other stakeholders to start a process for amending the offensive laws or repealing them.

The committee members include a pro-media rights activist and member of NGE, Richard Akinnola; lawyer and former editor of Punch Newspaper, Gbemiga Ogunleye; former Editor-In-Chief/Managing Director of The Guardian, Martins Oloja; Deputy Editor-In-Chief/Chairman, Editorial Board of Daily Trust, Idris Hamza; and General Secretary of NGE, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren.

In a statement jointly signed by NGE President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Uwugiaren, the professional body of editors and media executives said its decision was informed by the “chilling effects” of the legislations on the country’s democracy and press freedom.

According to NGE, “We are concerned about the negative impact of these plethora of obnoxious laws; some of them were enacted by the colonial government, which today are undermining accountability and transparency at all levels of government.

“Anti-media laws can make it more difficult for journalists to hold those in power accountable, allowing corruption and abuse of power to go unchecked.

“These anti-media laws also have the capacity to restrict the ability of Nigerians to express their opinions and participate in robust public conversation that is capable of undermining the fundamental right to free speech.’’

The Guild added that despite the existence of the Freedom of Information Act in the country’s statutory book, anti-media laws had hugely limited access to information, thereby making it challenging for Nigerians to make informed decisions and participate in the democratic process.

It stated, “We argue that the huge deficit of trust by Nigerians against government today is caused by these obnoxious laws. Anti-media laws have the capacity to erode trust in institutions, including the government, judiciary, and media, thereby undermining the legitimacy of democratic institutions.

‘’They can also concentrate power in the hands of the political elite and those in government, allowing them to control the narrative and suppress dissenting voices, including opposition parties, civil society organisations, and individual activists, as we are currently witnessing in the country.’’

The Guild explained that to further avoid damage to country’s democratic culture and values, the committee was expected to engage the Minister of Information and National Orientation, National Assembly, and other stakeholders in identifying those laws with the aim of addressing the threat that the anti-media laws pose to democratic stability.

It said the laws could create an atmosphere in which authoritarianism flourished.

NGE said it aimed to not just create an enabling environment for press freedom and free speech, but also, more importantly, to deepen democracy and good governance at all levels of government in the country.