3rd May, 2024
The Nigerian Guild of Editors has called for the repeal of laws that impede the freedom of the press in the country. The Guild also called on the National Assembly to make laws that guarantee the freedom of the press.
The call was contained in a statement by the Guild’s President Eze Anaba and General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, to mark World Press Freedom Day.
The statement said: “The Federal Government will fundamentally be promoting the enabling environment for media to operate responsibly if it adopts a law to protect persons who speak out on matters of public interest against abusive lawsuits meant to silence them.
“The Federal Government should take a cue from the European Union and other democracies around the world, who have adopted similar laws to protect journalists and media houses against Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP suit).
“More so, there are still many obnoxious and anti-media laws in our books that are targeted at journalists and media houses. The National Assembly must take immediate step to repeal them.’’
“In line with the theme of this year’s celebration, we believe that journalism and freedom of expression are crucial in the context of the current global environmental crisis.
‘’Journalism and freedom of expression help in raising public awareness about environmental issues; holding power accountable; amplifying marginalized voices; promoting transparency and accountability; fostering public debate/engagement, and providing a platform for solutions’’.