Under the cover of tackling fake news and hate speech, the proposed amendments to the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Acts readily shackle press freedom, hound critics of government policies and the public’s right to be heard. It is evident that Nigeria is heading back to the obnoxious military era of the 1980s. xThe civilian toga of the sponsors or their self-acclaimed conversion to democratic norms should deceive no one. Last year, Nigeria actually fell five places to 120th out of 180 in a ranking of press freedom compiled by a global watchdog organisation, Re­porters Without Borders. To the media belongs a constitutional role as the “Fourth Estate of the Realm” in a democracy.

Source: The Guardian July 13, 2021 03:11 UTC