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MRA Calls for Free Access to Information
Today is World Press Freedom Day
In celebrating the day with the Nigerian Press, the MEDIA
RIGHTS AGENDA (MRA) calls on the Nigerian Government to remove all
obstacles to free access to information.
Freedom of Information has long been accepted as an
essential ingredient of freedom of speech and of the press. The Nigerian
government should, therefore, as a mater of policy recognize the right of
citizens to have unhindered access to information, especially
government-held information, as part of its effects to encourage the
exchange of ideas.
The Government should also by a fundamental law guarantee
citizens and the press the right of access to government-held information
and protect government officials who divulge such information from
official reprisals.
The citizens require information to make decisions on the
best possible social, economic and political policies, and decide whether
to support the Government’s policies.
The Government itself requires informed criticisms based on
opinions freely expressed in the press to know what a majority of the
people want.
By operating under a cloud of secrecy, the Government
creates the right atmosphere for speculations and rumour-mongering which
in the final analysis, is inimical to its interests.
The Media Rights Agenda also calls on the Government to
develop the information media by eliminating all economic, technical and
administrative barriers to the production and movement of newspapers and
magazines as well as other printed materials.
We urge the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister
for Justice, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa, to draw the attention of the security
agencies to the fact that the sedition law under the Criminal Code, which
has been a veritable tool for the harassment of journalists in recent
years, no longer exists by virtue of the decision of the Court of Appeal,
Enugu Division, delivered on July 27, 1983
It was never within the contemplation of the framers of the
freedom of expression provision in the Nigerian constitution or similar
provisions in international instruments that only palatable or favourable
speech should be protected or tolerated by those in authority.
It was, in fact, to vindicate the rights of those with
dissenting views and opinions that those provisions became necessary.
The Government must begin to imbibe the philosophy
contained in Article 11 of the Declaration of Fundamental Principles
concerning the contribution of the Mass media to Strengthening peace and
International Understanding to the Promotion of Human Rights and to
Countering Racialism, Apartheid and Incitement to War adopted by the
General Conference of UNESCO in 1978 which stipulates that if the mass
media are to be in a position to promote the principles of the Declaration
in their activities, it is essential that journalists and other agents of
the mass media in their own countries or abroad be assured of protection
guaranteeing them the best conditions for the exercise of their
profession.
TIVE DENEDO
NATIONAL SECRETARY
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