Nigerian media begins ‘FRONT PAGE PROTEST’ against draconia media law

The Nigerian Press Organization (NPO) has set July 12, 2021 as deadline to stage ‘Front Page Protests’ through uniform publication of a uniform artwork in all the newspapers, in response to what it described as an attempt by the Maj.General Buhari’s Government to stifle Nigerian media’s constitutional freedom.  This was the resolution of NPO after its meeting held recently in Maryland, Lagos.

 

It emphatically disclosed that media protest would continue on July 13, 2021, with all newspapers carrying a front page editorial “with a central theme – denouncing government’s attempt to stifle the people’s right to know through its crude attempt to return the country into the draconian era of the military, even as we are in a democracy.”

 

Members of the association includes Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN: the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ and other other relevant body.

 

A statement signed by Mr. Feyi Smith, on behalf of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) said the July 14, 2021 publication would also explain why and what prompted activities of the two previous days.

 

The statement read in part,

 

 “It confers on the Press Council the power to determine ethics and fake news, investigate infractions and impose fines on journalists, publishers and distributors. It proposes fines of up to N.25 million on the journalist, and N5 million on a corporate body. It specifies jail terms of one to three years and fines ranging from N.25 million to N5 million on journalists, news agents and media outlets.

“It proposes a fine of between N2 million to N5 million to erring purveyors, two years in jail and compensation for fake news while the medium of publication is liable to N10 million fine or closure for one year in addition to payment of N20 million as compensation to the aggrieved party.

“The bill, draconian and anti-press freedom is a poor mix and resurrection of the obnoxious Public Officers Protection Against False accusation Decree No. 4 of 1984 and the Newspapers Registration Decree 43 of 1993, both vestiges of the dark days of military rule. It assumes that there are no extant laws to penalise media infractions and exact restitutions for the aggrieved persons.

“The new NBC is no less galling, making the Minister of Information the Monster Minister with sweeping powers to make and enforce regulations online and offline.”

The meeting noted that the bill as currently concorted, “is a sinister, draconian legislative ambush, which seeks to choke the media with exactly those prayers the NPAN has taken before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, seeking relief to unshackle the press in a democracy, and encourage it to from perform its constitutional responsibility of holding the government accountable to the people at all times, as enshrined in Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

 

“The ambush is amplified by the hush- hush manner of a legislative public hearing which was conducted, without a formal invitation to the key stakeholders- NPAN, NGE and NUJ- while the only one that got an invitation, received same at the venue and on the day of the hearing.”

NPO further said, “that the proposed bill is unconstitutional as it runs against the principle and tenets of the rule of law. That it is subjudice of a pending case on the subject matter before the highest court of the land – the Supreme Court. That it violates the rule of the National Assembly not to deliberate on matters that have been surrendered to the Court for adjudication.

“That the bill seeks to criminalize journalism business and practice despite the surfeit of laws of country with enough provisions and avenues for legal redress where individuals or groups feel ‘offended’ by media reports or business infractions.

“That the bill smirks of an attempt at undue suffocation of the operations of the media business away from the Company and Allied Matters Act provisions.

“That the bill seeks to invest the regulatory bodies with judicial powers, and usurp the powers of the courts.

“That the bill lacks any redeeming feature of a good law as it is discriminatory and offensive to public good and morality.”

The statement said: “On July 12, 2021, All newspapers to stage a Front Page Protest by publishing a common designed artwork, denouncing government ‘s attempt to stifle the people’s rights to know and freedom of speech.

 

“July 13, 2021, All newspapers to carry a front page editorial with a central theme – denouncing government’s attempt to stifle the people’s right to know through its crude attempt to return the country into the draconian era of the military, even as we are in a democracy.

“July 14, 2021, Publication of materials explaining why and what prompted activities of the two previous days.”