26th May,
2019
WITHDRAW RESTRICTIONS ON MEDIA: MURIC TELLS NASS
The National Assembly (NASS) recently announced stringent
restrictions on the media. Among such restrictions are the voiding of
accreditations, the imposition of strict rules for renewal and the need for a
media house to prove that it circulates at
least 40,000 copies daily.
Other new
pre-requisites include evidence that a media outfit has a certificate of
incorporation, that it belongs to a professional body or bodies for media
organisations, that it has proof of membership of the Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ) backed by registration number and a code of certification
from the National Library.
Reacting to the new guidelines, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) described
them as tyrannical, anachronistic and vengeful. The Islamic human rights
organization reacted via a press release issued by its Director, Ishaq
Akintola, a professor of Islamic Studies on Sunday, 26th May, 2019.
“It is the handiwork of a reactionary leadership whose
failure has led to frustration. This leadership is venting its spleen on the
press. These new regulations cannot stand. They are draconian. We say no to the
harassment, intimidation and coercion of the press. It shows that the present
NASS is in the hands of fake democrats, rebellious subjects and enemies of the
Nigerian people. Freedom of the press is fundamental to the effective
functioning of democracy and only dictators tamper with it.
“Those new
guidelines are absolute bunkum, unrealistic, ludicrous and untenable. How can
they expect a newspaper to provide evidence of selling 40,000 copies daily? How
many of them buy newspapers on a daily basis? How many Nigerians buy newspapers
in these days of infotech and social media. The truth is that they hate the
media but they just cannot say so.
“But they are on a
wild goose chase. We will not allow the muffling of the press because we know
its value. The media is a separate arm of government. It is the fourth estate
of the realm. They should learn from President Muhammadu Buhari who strictly
follows a policy of noninterference with other arms of government.
“It is a
manifestation of intolerance. They have something to hide. It is also symptomatic
of bitter lawmakers. They are bitter because the press has boldly exposed many
of the antics of the 8th NASS. The press has exposed them as the worst
NASS in the annals of Nigeria’s democratic experience.
“These restrictions
portray the 8th NASS as moving backwards towards the Stone Age while
its counterparts in the rest of the civilized world consistently jet towards
sophisticated democratic practices. What a pity!
“The new rules are anti-people because the press is the
representative of the people. It is the voice of the voiceless. They are the
ears and the eyes of the hoi polloi. The Nigerian people voted members of the
NASS as their representatives. One of the major parameters of gauging a democracy
is that the electorate should be kept abreast of the deliberations of their
representatives. The media fills this lacuna. Therefore, placing restrictions
on the press in the NASS falls short of this vital yardstick. It translates to an
attempt at blindfolding the citizenry.
MURIC calls for a
quick repeal of those stringent rules. In the event that the current crop of
lawmakers refuse to withdraw the draconian rules, the incoming NASS must repeal
it immediately or get ready for a long-drawn battle with civil society. Those
rules are designed to put the hands of the press in handcuffs. They are unacceptable.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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