In commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), yesterday called on the Federal Government to ensure adequate protection for media professionals in Nigeria.
This year’s celebration is themed: “Shaping a future of rights: Freedom of Expression as a driver for all other human rights.”
MRA also urged the government to prevent the “relentless attacks on the media over the years,” which it said is undermining the general human rights protection for all Nigerians, democracy and sustainable development in the country.
This is contained in a statement to commemorate this year’s World Press Freedom Day and the 30th anniversary of the proclamation of the day by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993.
MRA said by strengthening the right to freedom of expression, which is a critical human right that serves as a driver for all other human rights, the government could ensure a future where all other human rights are adequately protected and respected in Nigeria.
By placing the responsibility of policing a powerful institution like the Government on the media without adequate or commensurate protections, the media has been made a target for attacks by all corrupt or incompetent government officials seeking to hide their misdeeds or mistakes.
MRA’s Programme Director, Ayode Longe, was quoted as stressing the enormous duty imposed on the media by the Constitution, particularly Section 22, which requires the media sector to ensure that the government lives up to its responsibilities to the people and to hold the government accountable.
Accordingly, he noted that the failure to provide adequate protection for the media will impede its ability to perform these functions upon which good governance, democracy and sustainable development depend.
Longe continued: “The clear evidence before us is that no other sector of the Nigerian society has faced such relentless attacks for decades as the media sector has had to endure.
“By placing the responsibility of policing a powerful institution like the Government on the media without adequate or commensurate protections, the media has been made a target for attacks by all corrupt or incompetent government officials seeking to hide their misdeeds or mistakes.
“It is only in an environment where freedom of expression is adequately protected and respected that citizens can have the confidence to engage in public discourse; criticise government policies and officials; make meaningful contributions to policies; advocate for their own rights as well as the rights of others.”
MRA therefore urged the government to take steps to ensure the safety of journalists, offline and online, by investigating and prosecuting attacks on journalists, and holding perpetrators accountable.
It also called on the incoming administration to make a commitment to protect media freedom by reviewing and amending existing laws and regulations to ensure they provide robust legal protections for freedom of expression, in conformity with international standards.
