Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), [email protected]

Nigeria: Media Bill before parliament

A Bill seeking to establish a Media Practitioners Complaints Commission
(MPCC) has been introduced in the House of Representatives, Nigeria's lower
house of chamber.

The Bill, titled "Journalism Enhancement Bill", seeks to establish an MPCC
in each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The
Commission shall have the power to take "disciplinary" action against media
practitioners who flout the law.

The proposed MPCC, according to the Bill, shall also have power to initiate
inquiries into cases of professional misconduct, summon practitioners for
evidence and prescribe punishments for offences committed by journalists.

Section 27 of the draft Bill states: "A journalist shall not present or
report acts of violence, religious or inter-ethnic or tribal conflicts,
armed robberies, terrorist activities, national controversies such as
inter-governmental and or parliamentary conflicts, natural disasters, vulgar
display of wealth, or other negative trends and tendencies in the society or
polity, in a sensational way, or in a manner that glorifies such acts in the
eyes of the public, or foreign observers."

It further provides that publication of "inaccurate and or misleading"
stories in the media will attract punishment for both the reporter and the
media organization.

Further, the Bill provides that any journalist who solicits or accepts
inducement to publish or suppress a story will be liable to one-year jail
term or pay a fine of N100,000.00 (approximately $770.00).

Section 37 says: "Where a journalist is found liable by the Commission for
professional and or ethical misconduct, it shall have power to reprimand, or
suspend him/her for a period not exceeding twelve (12) months or impose any
other appropriate punishment."

The draft legislation also reserves at least 25 per cent of board
appointments in media establishments to registered, practicing journalists.

It seeks to make publication of information on the personal life of
individuals subject to "public interest".

The Bill has already come up for first reading in the House, but no date has
as yet been fixed for debate on its contents.

Prof Kwame Karikari
Executive Director (MFWA)
Tel: 233-21-24 24 70
Fax: 233-21-22 10 84

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of MFWA**