Editors Demand Release Of Detained Journalists, Flay Hate Speech Bill
3 min readEditors in Nigeria, under the auspices of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, ended their Annual National Editors’ Conference, ANEC, on Sunday in Sokoto with a call for the release of detained journalists anywhere in the country.
The editors also restated its condemnation of the hate spill bill currently in the process of being passed into law in the senate. The editors stated their posiiton in a communiqué that was endorsed by the new president, Musa Isa and secretary-general, Mary Atolagbe.
Other issues discussed at the conference, according to the communiqué, included the state of the economy and its effects on the media industry. The theme of the conference was “a Distressed Media: Impact on Government, Governance and the Society.” It was a high profile gathering which had the entire cabinet of the Sokoto State government in attendance. The state’s Executive Governor, Rt. Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR, declared the event open.
At the conference, the editors:
*Expressed concern over the proposed fake news and hate speech bills and drew the attention of both the National Assembly and the Federal Government to the fact that draconian legislations have no place in Nigeria’s democracy.
* Noted that Nigeria’s dwindling economic fortune had contributed to the distress in the media industry and there was need for the government to overhaul its economic architecture in order to reflate the sagging economy and increase the revenue streams of the nation.
* Canvassed the need for diversification, improved funding, collaboration, specialised journalism education programmes, newsroom re-engineering among other innovations necessary for revenue generation and sustenance of media businesses.
* Emphasised the need for serious capital injection into the media industry to overcome under capitalization and dearth of media businesses.
*Identified ownership interference as a key factor militating against free operation of the media and therefore advised owners of both public and private media organizations to pay more attention to facilitating the smooth operations of the media as truly business outfits.
*Condemned all dictatorial tendencies against the media and stressed the need to collectively fight against all media abuses by non professionals; and frowned at all attempts to punish conventional media for the wrongs of non professionals on the social media platforms.
*Called for the release of all detained journalists across the country, stating that democracy thrives better in countries that cherish and promote media freedom.
*Resolved to set up a committee to prepare for the 50th anniversary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and come up with a Compendium to showcase its activities since inception.
*Ratified the election of Mr. Mustapha Isah as the substantive President of the Guild, following the appointment of Mrs Funke Egbemode as a Commissioner in the State of Osun.
*Commended the government of Sokoto State for the rapid growth and acceleration of infrastructure development across the state, as well as the widespread human capital development programmes in the areas of free education, sponsorship of indigent students regardless of their origin as well as initiatives for improved Medicare for the people.
*Expressed its appreciation to the Governor of Sokoto State for hosting and supporting the Guild to have a successful conference.