Editors task National Assembly on Information Bill

Samuel Oyadongha

Vanguard, September 11, 2006

he 3^rd All Nigerian Editors’ Conference has ended in Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital with a call on the National Assembly to expedite passage of the Freedom of Information bill to facilitate media’s role in enhancing accountability, good governance and preserving the fundamental rights of all Nigerians.

The conference, which also reviewed the political situation in the country and the spate of assassinations, urged politicians to shun violence, thuggery and other evil tendencies but address issues rather than personalities and their campaigns.

In a 12-point communiqué issued at the end of its three-day meeting made available to Vanguard the conference agreed to provide a platform for public discourse by ensuring that all contestants are provided equal opportunities to access the media in order to reach the electorate to ensure a level playing ground for all.

The conference also agreed to promote continuous dialogue amongst stakeholders to ensure increased scrutiny of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) preparations for the elections and expose potential areas that may discredit the polls.

According to the Communiqué, signed by the President and Ag. Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Baba Halilu Dantiye and John Ndukauba respectively, the body resolved to protect the gains realized from the nation’s nascent democracy by constantly monitoring police investigations into reported cases of political violence and assassinations.

It noted that the dangers inherent in appointing non-professionals as head of media organizations and accordingly urged proprietors, especially public-owned media to ensure that only professionals are appointed heads.

While commending the role of the media in the discharge of their duties, the conference appealed to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for balancing in its treatment of both public and private broadcasting organizations so as to foster professionalism in the industry.

It recognized the different orientations of the registered political parties, and urges all the parties, to avail themselves of the equal opportunities given by the media to reach out to the electorate.

The conference also endorsed the civic education and agenda setting responsibility of the media and urged media organizations to ensure that all parties pursue issue-based campaigns.

It also noted with concern the negative implications of media owners’ failure to fulfill their obligations to their staff and therefore urged proprietors to ensure that salaries and other staff entitlements are paid as when due.

In order to strengthen the capabilities of media organizations, the conference endorsed the need to form alliances amongst themselves to promote capacity building and provide synergy in the discharge of their professional duties.