Court Grants MRA Permission to Sue AGF over Failure to Make Regulations for Implementation of Anti-Torture Act
A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted Media Rights Agenda (MRA) permission to apply for an order of mandamus to compel the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) to exercise the mandatory legal duty stipulated in Section 11 of the Anti-Torture Act, 2017 to make rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the Act.
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Justice Minister Describes FOI Act as a Milestone in Nigeria’s National Legislative Agenda
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), has described the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011 as a “milestone in our national legislative agenda”, saying that the “Act has specifically highlighted the fact that access is necessary for the meaningful exercise of free expression on matters of public or political interest.” Read more…
MRA’s Executive Director Calls on FOI Desk Officers of Public Institutions to Make the FOI Act Work
The Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Mr. Edetaen Ojo, has called on Freedom of Information (FOI) Desk Officers of Public Institutions to ensure that the FOI Act works and that members of the public are able to routinely use it to obtain information from Government bodies. Read more…
EU Determined to Defend Access to Information Worldwide, Says EU’s Clement Boutillier
The European Union (EU) is determined to defend access to information within its borders and worldwide as access to information is under increasing pressure, according to Mr. Clement Boutillier, Head of the Democracy, Governance and Migration Section at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS. Read more…
Court Orders Finance Ministry to Pay Journalist N1 Million for Wrongful Denial of Information
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the refusal of the Federal Ministry of Finance to provide an Abuja-based journalist, Ms Godsgift Onyedinefu, with the information she requested in 2019 on the cost of Nigeria’s participation in the 2018 World Cup amounted to an unlawful violation of her right of access to information and ordered the ministry and its minster to pay her N1 million as damages. Read more…
CWPPF Condemns Attacks on Media, Calls for Adequate Security and Protection for Media Workers
The Coalition of Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has condemned the persistent attacks on journalists in Nigeria and called on the government to protect all media workers in the country. Read more…
Implementing Regulations for Anti-Torture Act to be Published Soon, Says Justice Minister
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), has promised that Implementing Rules and Regulations made pursuant to the Anti-Torture Act, 2017 will soon be published in response to a demand notice served on him by Media Rights Agenda (MRA), requesting him to make regulations for the effective implementation of the Act. Read more…
NBC Suspends Radio Programme, Fines Station N5 Million for Alleged Breach of Broadcasting Code
For discussing the controversial extension of the appointment of the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr. Rufai Abubakar, on its programme ”Idon Mikiya”, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on January 28, 2022, announced that it had fined Vision Media Services Limited, operators of Vision FM radio in Abuja the sum of N5 million, alleging the discussion breached section 39(3) (b) of the 1999 Constitution and the Nigerian Broadcasting Code. Read more…
FOI Desk Officers of Public Institutions Central to Nigeria’s Achievement of OGP Commitments, Says National Coordinator
The National Coordinator of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Nigeria, Dr. Gloria Ahmed, has said that Freedom of Information (FOI) Desk Officers of public institutions are central to and critically important for the achievement of Nigeria’s commitments in the area of access to information under the country’s OGP National Action Plan. Read more…
OGP Calls for Nominations to Fill Vacancies on Steering Committee
The Open Government Partnership (OGP) has issued a call for nominations to fill three Civil Society seats on the Steering Committee, starting October 1, 2022. Self-nomination is also accepted. Read more…
Dart Center Calls for Applications for Global Early Childhood Reporting Fellowship
The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma is now accepting applications for the 2022 edition of its Global Early Childhood Reporting Fellowship focused on illuminating issues related to young children’s growth, development and wellbeing. Read more…
Hoodlums Attack TV Crew Covering Traffic Gridlock in Lagos
On January 31, 2022, some hoodlums suspected to be members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and Maritime workers, as well as, those engaged by the Apapa Local Government Council to extort money from motorists, attacked and stabbed a driver of Channels TV vehicle, Mr. Ismail Sanusi, while the TV crew was recording the condition of the traffic gridlock on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and environs. Read more…
Gunmen Invade Newspaper Office, Threaten to Kill Staff
Nine gunmen, invaded the Abuja offices of the privately-owned daily, ThisDay newspaper, at about 3.00 am on January 27, 2022, assaulting some of its production staff and the private security guards on duty. Read more…
EFJ Commends Initiative on Employers’ Actions on Journalists’ Protection in Germany
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has commended an initiative by an alliance of journalists’ organizations, media unions and advisory institutions in Germany which enables journalists in the country to find out whether their employers or clients have joined a code of conduct to better protect journalists through the website Schutzkodex. Read more…
IPI Releases Local Media Survival Guide 2022
The Vienna, Austria-based International Press Institute (IPI) has released the 2022 Local Media Survival Guide on how journalism is innovating to find sustainable ways to serve local communities around the world and fight against misinformation. Read more…
Legal Gender Cultural Foundation Accepting Entries for International Women’s Film Festival
Legal Gender Cultural Foundation (LIZA) is now accepting entries for its International Women’s Film Festival “KIN” (“woman” in Armenian), from filmmakers around the world for films that address issues related to women’s rights and gender problems. Read more…
WAS Court Dismisses Nigerian Government’s Motion to Strike Out Suits Over Twitter Ban, Sets May 10 for Judgment
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NSCDC Operatives Beat Up Journalist Covering Students’ Protest 
OHCHR Calls for Inputs into Practical Application of UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to Technology Companies 
OGP Launches Fresh Call for Applications for Local Membership 
Canada Assumes Chairship of Freedom Online Coalition 
Call Opens for Applications for Africa D4D Journalism Competition
Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival Accepting Entries 
Entries Open for Second Annual Covering Climate Now Journalism Awards 
Transparency International 2021 Report Shows No Significant Improvement in Corruption Level Worldwide
Women’s Media Foundation Accepting Nominations for ‘Courage in Journalism’ Awards
American Geophysical Union Accepting Nominations for 2022 Journalism Awards
DW Akademie Invites Applications for Masters Scholarships in International Media Studies
IFJ Release Report of 45 Journalists, Media Workers Killed in 2021
