By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

Abuja, June 21, 2022

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other stakeholders have insisted on a Self-Regulatory Framework to sanitise the media sector.

The media stakeholders also restated their commitment to defend freedom of expression and media freedom.

This is contained in the communique from the one-day strategic meeting of media stakeholders called to deliberate on a framework for media regulation in Nigeria on Tuesday in Lagos.

The communique was signed by Mustapha Isah, President, NGE; Feyi Smith, Executive Secretary of NPAN; Chris Isiguzo, President of NUJ; Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director of MRA, and Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of IPC.

“The participants therefore resolved to pursue a self-regulatory framework to ensure improved standards in the Nigerian media, as well as to protect the media sector from interference, control and repression by government.

“The meeting agreed that consistent with regional and international norms and standards, a media regulatory framework led and driven by media professionals represents the most effective guarantee of media freedom and the independence of the media.

 ‘’The stakeholders also resolved to effectively implement the existing Code of Ethics for Nigerian journalists, while the process of updating same is on.

“The participants also resolved to work together as a sector for the betterment of the journalism profession as well as media business,” they said.

The meeting commended media houses that had already appointed local Ombudsmen in their organisations and called on those that had not appointed or designated such mechanisms to take urgent steps to do so.

 The meeting also set up a committee made up of representatives of the different stakeholder groups to develop a framework for self-regulation by the media in Nigeria; which will be presented to a larger meeting of media stakeholders.

 However, the stakeholders were mandated to look at all the reports of various committees set up to review the laws guiding the practice, the profession and the business of the media as a guide to a final position.