NBC should be scrapped for efficient information delivery – Ex Imo NBA chairman

The former Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association Imo State chapter, Lawrence Nwakaeti has called for the scrapping of National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, with the argument that the agency is not in tandem with tenets of democracy and also discourages efficient information delivering.
He pointed out that recent activities of the NBC, runs contrary to the provision of the constitution, which according to him, clearly guarantees free speech.
The legal practitioner made the call while delivering a lecture at a seminar organized by Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Imo State Council for its members with a view of enhancing effective journalism practice.
Dwelling on the theme, Judiciary and The Role Of The Media In Deepening Nigerian Democracy, the NBA former State chairman remarked that both the Media and the Judiciary have crucial roles in safeguarding the nation’s democratic tenets from being ridiculed by unscrupulous politicians.
He informed that by the virtue of the 1999 constitution as amended, the media has a constitutional mandate to inform and enlighten the public on the day-to-day activities of government and other human institutions without any inhibition.
Nwakaeti asserted that the media is a powerful tool to use in holding public officers accountable and can also be used as agenda setters by bringing up crucial issues for public discourse.
The legal luminary emphasized that healthy democracy and instilling of democratic values and ethos can only be actualized through active media practice, which can create an avenue through which citizens can demand accountability from their political leaders.
He insisted that the creation of bodies such as, NBC, and the Nigeria Press Council to regulate the operation of the media should not supersede the constitution through which the media derived its power.
The former NBA Chairman observed that the creation of the regulatory bodies have hampered freedom of the media in carrying out its social responsibility to the people.
” I’m worried that the recent activities of the NBC run contrary to the provision of the constitution which clearly guarantees free speech.
“It is to be noted that the constitution is the principal law or group norm in Nigeria and therefore no piece of legislature can purport to run in conflict with the provisions of the constitution.when such happens or where there is likelihood of same, that law or piece of legislature will to the extent of that inconsistency be null and void ” he said.
Nwakaeti maintained that he is of the considered view that NBC as presently constituted is not necessary vehicle in a constitutional democracy where free speech is guaranteed with necessary legal safeguard.
He pointed out that using any agency to regulate the activities of the media is to challenge the power bestowed upon it by the constitution.
The former NBA chairman charged the Judiciary to always protect media practicioners from unnecessary obstruction by invoking section 22 of the 1999 constitution which he said recognized the importance of the media for sustainable democracy.
He also advised the Judiciary to work hand in glove with Journalists by making court proceedings and decisions more open to the public with the aid of the media.
Such a step, according to him, will help improve accessibility and transparency in justice dispensation.
Earlier in his opening remark, the State Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Precious Nwadike expressed gratitude to members of the union for standing firm in ensuring that journalism practice in the state is not being used as willing tools to ridicule the integrity of the profession.
He maintained that the sanctity and responsibility of the journalism profession as the watchdog of society must be upheld at all times, not minding whose ox is gored.
Contributing, the former Chairman of the Council, Steve Uzoeshi posited that journalists in the state were trying their best despite facing intimidation in the cause of their duty.
He said that the watchdog of society also needs to be protected while carrying out his or her duty.
Uzoeshi asserted that it is regrettable to observed that only the fourth estate of the realm does not receive allocation despite its crucial roles in building the nation.
He was of the view that since the other three arms of Government, the Judiciary, the Executive and the Legislative are being funded, the same measure should also be applied to the media as the fourth estate.
In his remarks, one of the Council leaders, Elder Lambert Ojukwu, encouraged journalists, especially the upcoming ones, to take journalism practice as a noble and serious profession that can expose them to the wider world.
He maintained that a journalist must always be ready to go to prison in the course of the job but advised that the ethics of the profession must be tenaciously upheld by practitioners.
Ojukwu commended the guest lecturer for awakening the consciousness of members towards knowing their rights
and requested that such seminars be on a regular basis to keep members updated.
Other contributors also emphasized the need to keep the journalism practice sacred and ensure its values are upheld with utmost respect.
Highlight of the event is the unveiling of the workstation and issuing of certificate to members in recognition of their steadfastness in resisting the sale of the union press centre.
NBC should be scrapped for efficient information delivery – Ex Imo NBA chairman


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