The Nigerian Guild of
Editors (NGE) has rejected the new guidelines for the accreditation of media
organisations, journalists/ correspondents covering the National Assembly,
describing it as primitive, undemocratic and blatantly anti-press and
anti-people.
The guideline issued by authorities of the National Assembly (NASS) is due to
become effective from June 11, 2019. It demands, among other draconian
provisions, that a media organisation wishing to be accredited for coverage of
NASS activities should submit a copy of its income tax return for the last two
years.
Other requirements include “presentation of evidence of certificate of
incorporation of the media organisation, evidence of membership of professional
bodies for the journalists, maintenance of a functional Bureau in Abuja (staff
strength not less than 5 Editorial staff) and daily circulation of 40,000
copies for the print media with evidence to support the claimed circulation
figure.”
A statement by the secretary, Mary Atolagbe, reads: “The Guild finds this
vexatious, disrespectful and Draconian. It is a scurrilous attempt to gag the
press in a democracy and it cannot stand.
“These guidelines run contrary to the grains of reason, democratic ideals and
they are a clear affront on the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution
which empowers journalists to freely practise their profession without any gag,
muzzling and restriction.
“The NASS guidelines negate the constitutional principle of freedom of
expression and run contrary to the African Charter on fundamental rights and
the right of the people to know. The Guild strongly objects to these guidelines
in their entirety as they serve no public good except the myopic interest of
its chroniclers and purveyors.
“The Guild is disappointed that the same 8th National Assembly which
benefitted immensely from free press in its moments of trial has turned round
to put the same press in shackles and chains. We reject this crude abrasion of
our constitutional rights to freely disseminate information. It cannot stand.
“The Guild urges all media houses across the nation to rise and reject this
medieval intrusion into the media space in the 21st century, much more in
a democracy which Nigerian media doggedly fought for and for which some
journalists paid the supreme price”.
