The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has rejected insinuations by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that journalists by their reporting encourage terrorism.
NBC, in its recent directive, warned journalists, television and radio stations in Nigeria against “glamorising and giving too many details on the nefarious activities of terrorists and kidnappers” during daily newspaper reviews.
NGE, in a statement by its President, Mustapha Isah, and the General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, on Wednesday, described the recent directive by the commission as yet another attempt to gag the media from playing its primary role in a democratic setting.
‘’We hope it is not a ploy by the NBC to ban newspaper review in broadcasting stations. Because the content of the directive doesn’t specify what kind of conduct would fall within their realm. It is our view that the role of independent, critical, and trustworthy journalism has never been more important than now in our country,” the Guild said.
Against the background of NBC growing anti-media policy, the group questioned the sincerity of such a directive as it failed to explicitly define what constitutes ‘’too many details’’, ‘’glamorising’’, ‘’divisive rhetoric’’, and ‘’security issues.’’
While the NGE reiterated the Nigerian media’s commitment to the fight against terrorism, it said the media would not sacrifice its freedom and independence to NBC. “While we are mindful of our responsibility at this trying moment for our nation, we must also not lose the ability to see that security, in a democratic nation, is not an end in itself.
“Its single purpose is to protect the capability of institutions, including the media, to guarantee citizens the free exercise of their fundamental human rights, without discrimination.
‘History has revealed time and again that efforts to increase security through the clampdown of liberty and freedom have threatened both liberty and security,” the NGE stated.
