News
ICP Tasks Journalists On Use Of FOl
The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos in partnership with Media Right agenda (MRA), has organised a two-day media training workshop aimed at using the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act for Investigative Reports on Campaign Finance and Covid-19 Accountability Issues.
The workshop brought together 27 female and male journalists from the print, broadcast and online media, including investigative reporters, political reporters, state house correspondents and editors from public and private media outlets in Nigeria.
In a communique issued at the end of the two-day workshop held recently in Abuja, signed and made available by the IPC Programme Manager, Mrs Stella Nwofia to the Tide, it states that the workshop aimed at sharpening the investigative skills of participants in their reporting through the use of more effective use of the FoI Act as a tool to facilitate transparent, free, fair and credible elections as well as monitoring government response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its utilization of funds.
In their separate presentations on the topics: ‘Understanding the Key Features of the FoI Act, 2011’ by the Executive Director, MRA’s, Mr Edetaen Ojo and ‘The Role of the Media in Ensuring Good Governance and Government Accountability’, by the Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, they emphasised on the need for journalists to be properly guided by the provisions of the FoI as well as relevant electoral laws including the Constitution and other extant laws and frameworks when carrying out investigative reporting.
The Tide reports that, following the presentations, discussions and brainstorming sessions, participants made the following recommendations:
“Journalists should actively use investigative tools and instruments, such as the FOI Act in reporting on political party finances and, where possible, invoke the FOI Act to ensure transparency and accountability, as well as full respect for human rights”, adhere to the provisions of applicable instruments such as the Electoral Act, the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists and uphold the principles of fair access to the media for political parties and candidates, accuracy and balanced coverage in their reporting, especially in political and election matters.
“ Journalists should dig deep into the data published by Federal and State agencies and ensure that all receipts and expenditures of funds relating to Covid-19 are fully transparent and explained”.
“Journalists should accord priority to professional self-development and avail themselves of all opportunities for funding for further journalism studies and fellowships around the world. In addition, journalists should network and partner with bodies that fund researches and writing of investigative stories on sundry development and electoral issues”.
Journalists should endeavour to give greater prominence to women voices and marginalized group as important news sources and also focus on how they are impacted by government policies, programmes and actions.
Participants identified story ideas that they will investigate and follow up on, both individually and collaboratively, and agreed to set up a platform to facilitate the sharing of further ideas and experiences as well as to foster collaboration, especially in carrying out investigations.
Highlights of the workshop was plenary sessions at which participants brainstormed on the matters arising from the presentations and came up with various story ideas on campaign finance and Covid-19 accountability issues that they will investigate using the FOI Act.
The workshop featured presentations on Understanding and Reporting Campaign Finance and Political Expenditure Frameworks and Issues, by Mr Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director, Center for Social Justice (CSJ); Using Investigative Reporting Techniques to Monitor Compliance with Campaign Finance and Political Expenditure Regulations by Ms. Tobore Ovuorie, a freelance investigative journalist; and Deploying the FOI Act and Other Investigative Tools/Methodologies in Reporting Covid-19 Funds in the Public Interest, by Dr Abiodun Adeniyi, an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Mass Communications at Baze University, Abuja.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.