The Nigerian Guild of Editors has emphasized the need for an enabling environment for the media to operate, stating that media freedom, freedom of expression, and access to public information are crucial to democracy.
NGE made this call in a statement released to mark 2024 World Press Freedom Day on Thursday.
The professional body of editors and media executives in Nigeria acknowledged the vital role played by journalists, media workers, and free/independent media in protecting the country’s democracy, urging them not to give up despite the prevailing economic challenges.
The NGE’s President, Mr. Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, called on the National Assembly to enact a law to protect journalists who speak out on matters of public interest, especially against abusive and strategic lawsuits regularly initiated to silence them.
The 2024 edition of the World Press Freedom Day is dedicated to emphasizing the importance of good journalism amidst the current global environmental crisis. Observed annually on May 3, World Press Freedom Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993.
It serves to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, assess the state of press freedom worldwide, defend the media from attacks on their independence, and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
The day also serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It highlights the importance of a free, independent, and pluralistic media in fostering transparency, accountability, and democracy.
The professional body of editors said, “This year’s World Press Freedom Day provides an opportunity for every stakeholder in the media community to continue to drum it to the hearing of both state and non-state actors – about the importance of press freedom and the challenges being faced by journalists, including censorship, harassment, imprisonment and violence. And the urgent need by the government to take deliberate and sustained action to promote press freedom and good journalism in the country.
“The Federal Government will fundamentally be promoting the enabling environment for media to operate responsibly if it adopts a law to protect persons who speak out on matters of public interest against abusive lawsuits meant to silence them.
“The Federal Government should take a clue from the European Union and other democracies around the world, who have adopted similar laws to protect journalists and media houses against Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, SLAPP suit.
“More so, there are still many obnoxious and anti-media laws in our statutory books that are targeted at journalists and media houses. The National Assembly must take immediate step to repeal them.”
The NGE also urged governments at all levels, international organizations, and civil society organizations to protect and promote press freedom. They called for ensuring the safety and security of journalists and media houses and for repealing all restrictive laws and policies targeted at the media.
“We celebrate the courageousness and commitment of journalists across the country, who continue to risk everything to bring us the truth and reliable/credible information. We also acknowledge the growing threats to press freedom – from violence and censorship to disinformation and economic pressures.
“We pay tribute to the journalists who have lost their lives or faced persecution, and we stand in solidarity with those under threat or attack and those who continue to work under very harsh economic conditions,” the NGE said.
The editors affirmed their commitment to advocating for press freedom, freedom of expression, and access to information, noting that these principles are crucial to good governance, democratic societies, and fundamental human rights.
