Nigerian media owners and publishers, under the auspices of the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), inaugurated the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) and its Ombudsman on Monday. The initiative, aimed at monitoring the media watchdog and regulating journalistic practice, was announced by Mallam Kabir Yusuf, President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the NPO. Yusuf declared that the umbrella body representing owners, editors and reporters of print and online journalism in Nigeria is assuming responsibility for regulating its work and conduct.
The nine‑member commission comprises prominent Nigerians drawn from the media, the legal profession, academia and civil society. It is chaired by Mr. Emeka Izeze, former Managing Director of The Guardian newspaper. Other members include Mr. A. B. Mahmoud, SAN, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association; Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna, Deputy Vice‑Chancellor (Academics) at Paul University, Awka; Dr. Hussain Abdu, Development Specialist and Country Director of Care International (Nigeria); Mr. Lanre Idowu, Editor‑in‑Chief of Diamond Publications Ltd. and founder of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME); Mr. Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA); Mrs. Dupe Ajayi‑Gbadebo, journalist, lawyer and arbitrator; and Mrs. Eugenia Abu, broadcaster, author, columnist and Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Information.
Yusuf, who chairs the Media Trust Group, the publisher of Daily Trust titles including Trust TV, explained that the commission will “serve as an independent forum for resolving complaints about the press quickly, fairly and free of charge; maintain high standards of Nigerian journalism and journalistic ethics; and defend the freedom of the press and the right of the people to know.” He noted that while radio and television are already regulated—some would say over‑regulated—print (the oldest medium) and online (the newest) have largely escaped such control. “Powerful and privileged Nigerians, irritated by the nosiness of the media, often call for checks on its powers,” he said, adding that many take freedom for granted. “The press exists to guard such liberties, but in a land of impunity our efforts merely annoy rather than hinder the powers that be.”
Yusuf warned that some journalists misuse their pens as swords, targeting real or imagined enemies. “The Ombudsman will call such people to order. To use the power of the press for good, one must first heal oneself before curing others,” he observed, praising the NPO’s selection of a strong team to “administer this medicine.”
Uncle Sam Amuka, Chairman and Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, inaugurated the commission and said it would greatly benefit both the media profession and the country. Commission Chairman Mr. Emeka Izeze emphasized that the NMCC’s mandate is not to gag the press. He observed that, although media owners have long fought to keep the press free from governmental interference, practitioners have not always held themselves accountable. “We must be fair to ourselves; we haven’t always done the right thing. Rather than waiting for outsiders who don’t understand our job to criticize us, this NPO initiative offers a way to protect our profession from government checks,” he said. “Our job is not to silence the press, but to provide the public with a channel for redress that will be enforced. We will strive to meet expectations and help the media operate professionally, because the nation cannot progress without a professional press.”
All commission members present pledged to discharge their duties to the best of their ability and to promote best practices in journalism.
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