NUJ, NGE, NAWOJ Bemoan Oppressive Laws Against Journalists In Nigeria
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Guild of Editors (NGE) and Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) have expressed concern over the prevailing unfriendly environment in which journalists work in Nigeria, stressing that the environment unleashes psychological trauma on practitioners.
Leading the discussions at a stakeholders Workshop in Abuja on Wednesday, the NUJ specifically said that with the array of unresolved issues bothering on attacks against journalists, it is clear that those who perpetrate the array of attacks do so with reckless abandon, adding that threats of prosecution to a large extent encourage self-censorship.
National President of the NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, who stated the position of the Union stakeholders’ workshop organized by the International Press Centre, Lagos, as part of activities marking the World Press Freedom, said that when a journalist resorts to forces censorship, the negative impact it makes on the delivery of good governance can be better appreciated.
The NUJ pointedly described the provisions of the Cybercrime Act 2015, under which several Journalists have been prosecuted, using the provisions of Section 24 of the Act that penalizes cyberstalking or messages that are false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety to another, as inimical to Press freedom whatsoever.
The NUJ President specifically noted that the law has empowered the courts to decide the type of report that makes people to be annoyed, saying that it is laughable.
National President of the NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, who stated these said that in view of the reality staring journalists in the face especially as it affects the worsening security situation, worsening economic and social conditions, they must remain courageous to report, factually and truthfully.
He urged journalists to resist the temptation to become part of the challenge by becoming overtly emotional and pandering to their own primordial sentiments in their reportage, stressing that journalism must be for public good to inform, educate and mobilize the people in these very trying times.
Isuguzo further said; “As we ruminate through this year’s, World Press Freedom Day, we must bear in mind that the work we do carries enormous weight. The nation is currently experiencing a plethora of challenges; we are in a nation in an undeclared war and this situation tasks our patriotism and professionalism.
“If information must be for public good, then we must utilise our strength to douse growing tension in our land. We must use the instrumentality of Journalism to promote national unity and cohesion in the face of growing spate of hate speech and incendiary discourse pervading our national space.
Also speaking, the President of the Guild of Editors, Mr Mustapha Isa said that the abuse of the provisions of the laws by governments in Nigeria is becoming worrisome.
Isa said that media freedom is key to the access of information and knowledge for public good, stressing that the hammer of suspension and arbitrary fines being imposed on broadcast media organisations by the National Broadcasting Commission has reached an unbearable situation which must be halted.
Similarly, the President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ladi Bala noted that the nation is not in short supply when talking about laws on press freedom in the country, adding however that in spite of the availability of laws, journalists are not free to practice the way they ought to.
Bala said that freedom of the press can be enhanced and better guaranteed with economic power and freedom.
She urged journalists to re-orientate their minds in rendering service and not allow their minds to be caged.
