President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Christopher Isiguzo, says the newly inaugurated National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) will build a stronger media profession that would work for the Nigerian people.
Isiguzo spoke on Monday in Lagos, on the sideline of the inauguration of the NMCC by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), compromising stakeholders in the media industry.
According to him, the Ombudsman is the stakeholders’ own way of responding to the persistent efforts by the National Assembly to come up with some forms of regulation for the media industry.
“We felt we have capacity as the stakeholders in the industry to regulate ourselves.
“What we have done is a co-regulation because it is not just the media professionals that are on the board, we have NBA (Nigerian Bar Association), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information.
“Everybody has been brought on board to ensure that we look at the media and have an industry that works for the Nigerian people.
“There is that confidence and trust this will bring to the media. It will also engender high level of professionalism and help us build a stronger media profession in Nigeria,” the NUJ boss said.
Isiguzo said that the media stakeholders’ idea was similar to what obtained in some other countries like Ghana, Malawi, the US, among others.
“With this, we will have a media that works, and where the freedom of information and expression are guaranteed.
“Nobody will be able to gag the press or put the media in a pigeon hole because the media is the oxygen of democracy.
“So, if we decide to pigeon hole the democracy, then there is problem,” Isiguzo added.
According to him, the experts on board have been brought together to look at the media so that if there are any infractions, the industry will be able to address them.
He noted, however, that there had been an appreciable level of confidence in the profession.
“This is more like an appellate commission, as all the media houses have been asked also to set up Ombudsman in the respective media organisations.
“That is the place where issues are first discussed and when you feel you haven’t got what you want (as complainant), you can come to this appellate level which is the National Media Complaints Commission.
“There is that confidence now for both the professionals and the public. It is a place where you can go and vent your anger on all unprofessional conducts,” he said.
The NUJ president said instead of people rushing to the court of law when aggrieved by media conduct, there are places like the NMCC to lay complaints.
NPO, umbrella body of owners, editors and reporters of print and online journalists in Nigeria, on Monday inaugurated a nine-member board of NMCC, otherwise known as the National Ombudsman.
The inauguration of the board is part of efforts to strengthen public confidence in the media.
The nine-member Ombudsman is chaired by Mr Emeka Izeze, former Editor-in- Chief and Managing Director of the Guardian Newspapers.
Other members of the commission are Malam AB Mahmoud, Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association; Prof. Chinyere Okunna, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Paul University, Awka; and Dr. Hussaini Abdu, Country Director Care International.
Mr. Lanre Idowu, Editor-in-Chief, Diamond Publications; Mrs. Eugenia Abu, Veteran broadcaster and author; Mr. Edetean Ojo, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda; Mrs. Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo, Former Editor and lawyer, and the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information are also on board.
