Nigeria’s striving press

Press, if not situated in a draconian authoritative milieu, should enjoy some degree of freedom if not absolute. A clinical look at how the press strives in Nigeria raises a question in the minds of budding journalists.

Before the deregulation of the broadcast media by the then head of state, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the broadcast media at that time was being subjected to the demands of the government. For those that don’t know what deregulation was or is all about, deregulation simply means the process whereby individuals, cooperate bodies and organisations are allowed to own, manage and control the broadcast media.

This was brought up by the former head of state who felt that doing that will generate more revenue for the government. Yes, we could say that what he did was a way of promoting or giving room for people to express themselves and for the press to solemnly decide what they want the public to see without subjugation or pressure from the government or any external forces, but it wasn’t the case because as of that time a body was set up by the government to checkmate the affairs of the press.

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was established in 1992 under Decree 38 and was charged with the responsibility of controlling the affairs of the broadcast media. Yes, we know that absolute power corrupts the mind absolutely. But, the press as it is largely seen as the fourth estate of the realm should have some sense of independence as the other arms of government. But that hasn’t been the case with the establishment of NBC, as they now regulate and control what the media gives out, especially the broadcast media.

The Nigerian Press Council (NPC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Bill that was recently raised in the National Assembly by Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi, who is the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation Ethics and Values is another gag on the media. The bill was widely rejected by the media with all major newspapers running as campaign tagged ‘Information blackout’, sponsored by NUJ, NGE and NPAN.

The bill was meant to limit the freedom of the press and that of the society at large. According to the information on the front page of all the major newspapers, “It’s not just against the media… it’s about society’s right to know, your right to be heard”.

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, when reacting to the bill said the bill is of good faith and also insisted that the press needs to be controlled. He said there’s no way the press can have total independence giving reference to other countries in Europe where the press is being controlled.

I can vividly remember when the former President of the United States of America, Donald Trump was still in the saddle and he got numerous criticisms from the press but he never asked them to be sanctioned or fined, but this hasn’t been the case with the Nigerian system, where any media house that condemns the government is likely to face sanctions or be reprimanded.

NBC has also limited the kind of information that broadcast stations can air, especially on security matters in the country that claims to practise democracy.

In Nigeria, the right and freedom of the press is always impeded by the people in power. When are we going to get it right in this country? When are we going to give the press the freedom to carry out their duties and responsibilities without external forces?

Give the Nigerian press the independence it needs to discharge its duties well.

George Idowu George, Abuja.

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