Nation
No Democracy Without Press Freedom-UNESCO, UNIC
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says democracy is a shadow of itself without press freedom.
The Officer-in-Charge of UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja, Mr Philippe Delange, said this at the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day organised by UNESCO, in collaboration with UN Information Centre (UNIC), on Friday in Abuja.
The 2023 World Press Freedom Day had the theme: “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for all Other Human Rights”.
The Tide’s source reports that World Press Freedom Day was established by the UN General Assembly to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press.
The source reports that the day is also to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression.
The day also coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of Vienna Conference Programme of Action on Human Rights.
Delange said: “Freedom of the press is the cornerstone of democratic society.
“Without a debate of ideas, without verified facts, without diversity of perspectives, democracy is a shadow of itself and World Press Freedom Day was established to remind us of this.
“For the international community, it is first and foremost a question of combating the impunity that still surround crimes of which journalists are victims, with nearly nine out of ten murders of journalists going unpunished.”
Delange also said the UN had the Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which UNESCO had been leading for ten years.
According to him, the action plan ensured that independent media can continue to exist.
“With the digital revolution, the information landscape and its modes of production and distribution have been radically disrupted, jeopardising the viability of independent professional media”, Delange said.
He, however, said thirty years after the first World Press Freedom Day, a lot had happened and lots more needed to be done as well.
The O-i-C said it was an opportunity to renew commitment within international organisations to defending journalists and ensuring press freedom.
Speaking, UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Matthias Schmale, said having freedom of expression and seeking information fostered intellectual growth and contribute to social and political progress.
“A free press is essential, if we want truth, justice, and accountability to flourish,”he said.
He expressed regret that press freedom remained under threat in many parts of the world, while speech was being repressed both online and offline.
According to him, truth is undermined by disinformation and hate speech, while media workers face mounting threats, including women journalists living in fear of violence in many parts of the world.
He said the day reminded all that freedom of expression enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was a prerequisite for the enjoyment of all other rights.
“We all have a responsibility to support and protect those who risk their lives speaking truth to power.
“UNESCO will continue to lead UN efforts to keep media professionals safe and help them seek justice.
“I call on government, CSOs and citizens to promote and protect press freedom.
“Together, we can shape a future of rights where journalists can tell the stories that needed to be told”, he said.
Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr Anthony Ojukwu, said the commission was aware of several bills proposed at the National Assembly for the purpose of gagging the media.
Represented by Mrs Agharese Arese, Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Ojukwu said NHRC would continue to work with other stakeholders to ensure the right to freedom of expression.
He said the press was exercised within the ambit of the law.
“Whereas, the social and digital media have been criticised for encroaching on privacy rights and fuelled hate statements.
“We believe in the sufficiency of our laws for individuals affected to seek civil legal remedies.
“The NHRC is passionate about the protection of the rights of Nigerians which includes journalists”, he said.
The Deputy Dean, Post Graduate Studies of Baze University, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, said freedom was priceless while it could be denied in diverse ways.
According to Adeniyi, freedom can be denied through regulations, intimidation, harassment, denial of rights which can be politically motivated or otherwise.
He said people could engage in peaceful protests, advocasies, dialogues to fight efforts targeted at gagging the media.
Adeniyi added that freedom of expression was an integral part of human rights and a viable democracy.
Mr John Attah, Programme Director, Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria, called on stakeholders to protect journalists while they do their jobs.
Attah also said journalists should abide by the ethics of the profession, adding that citizen journalism was important to ensure media literacy.
The day was celebrated with a panel discussion that focused on freedom of expression as a human right, gender and women in media, among other sub-topics.
A non- governmental organisation under the aegis of South South Media Association has presented an award to the Divisional Police Officer, Omoku ,CSP John Ladan.
The event which held recently in Omoku in Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, saw the attendance of top ranking officers and well wishers who gathered to celebrate an icon.
Presenting the award, the Chairman of the group, Kio Hopeson, said following the DPO’s selfless service to humanity, peace and development of the society, the group found him worthy to receive the award.
Hopeson hinted that the award had long been overdue, as his posting to Omoku had brought about peace, social harmony and drastic reduction of crime, saying, his open door policy and ensuring that every stakeholder is carried along in the fight against crime, was a contributing factor.
He said their investigation revealed that the people were extremely pleased with the reduction of crime under his watch in the area, stressing that his effort to interface with everyone has boosted the cooperation between the police and the residents.
On his part, the recipient, CSP John Ladan thanked the group for the honour done him.
The DPO expressed his gratitude to God and the Commissioner of Police for the support given him to serve.
He urged the people to see the police as friends as their job is protection of lives and property.
As part of efforts towards enrolment into the National Health Fellows programm of the Federal Government, the Rivers State Government in partnership with the World Health Organisation, (WHO) and other development partners has started the process of interviews for the selection of health professionals to be enrolled into the programme.
The National Health Fellows Programme is an interventionist initiative by the Federal and State Governments following the declaration of a state-of-emergency on the health sector by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023.
The initiative is aimed at reducing the physical and financial burdens on health-seeking Nigerians.
Briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, the Acting Director, Research and Planning, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Juliane Nwoke, who spoke on behalf of the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh said the programme is expected to enrol 774 persons representing each of the local government areas in the country.
In Rivers State, she said 23 persons are expected to emerge from the 69 shortlisted candidates, adding that already, nine persons have been interviewed, adding that the successful candidates would be engaged by the Federal Government for a period of one year to support the provision of healthcare services especially public health at both local, state and national levels.
She explained that core areas of competencies of shortlisted candidates includes public health, proficiency in Information and Communication Technology and data management.
“We have interviewed already, about nine candidates and by the end of today, we’ll be interviewing about 29 candidates.
“The interviews will end officially today for Rivers State because we are expected to interview 69 candidates.
“Specific competencies were considered in the selection process with interest on competencies in public health, ICT and data management, so we received the shortlist of candidates which we expect are based on these competencies.
“As you may know, there is a global and local shortage of manpower, so the 23 who qualifies in this round will add to the skilled manpower that is needed to drive healthcare delivery.
“As per impact, this fellows would be engaged directly by the Federal Government for a period of one year to support healthcare delivery and population health management at the local government, state and perhaps national levels, working directly from their LGAs,” she stated.
Dr. Nwoke assured shortlisted candidates of fairness in the screening process, maintaining that only the best will emerge at the end of the exercise.
John Bibor
The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has described as unacceptable, callous, wicked and cruel the judgments and pronouncements of the Supreme Court last Friday, concerning Rivers State political crisis, saying they are nothing to write home about.
This is even as the union has said Nigeria is fast drifting to a Banana Republic, where the rule of law is not upheld but thrown overboard.
The union equally took to the cleaners the Justices, who gave the judgments and pronouncements, for allegedly mortgaging their consciences, and urged Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara not to obey the judgments until such a time that the case bordering on the defection of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, pending at the Court of Appeal is dispensed with.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who canvassed this position in an interview in Port Harcourt, particularly described the judgment ordering the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation not to release the Federal Allocations of Rivers State as not only callous and wicked but cruel and self-serving.
He said civil servants in the State in particular reject the judgements and pronouncements of the apex court in their totality, and enjoined them to rise up against all plots and machinations to unseat the Governor, as a demonstration of their love, support and solidarity for him, contending that folding their arms and watching the plots to succeed, would amount to giving the enemies of the State a free rein to overrun the State.
He said the workers firmly believe that those fighting Governor Fubara, are not only fighting him but the people of the State, and enjoined them to rally round the Governor, who he noted has put smiles on their faces within the short period he has been in office.
Osumah noted that the Supreme Court judgments and pronouncements are an attempt by enemies of the State to pull the hands of the clock backwards, considering the monumental achievements of the Fubara administration so far.
He said it is unfortunate that the Justices who handed down the judgments and pronouncements, have through their actions and inaction, desecrated the sacred temple of justice, and by so doing making the judiciary a laughing stock in the eyes of the world, instead of elevating it in such a way that it becomes the much-acclaimed last hope of the masses and the common people in the country.
He decried a situation where the country’s judiciary has rather degenerated to a level where the highest bidders have held it hostage, at the expense of the ordinary people, saying it is a strong indication that the country is fast drifting to a Banana Republic, where the rule of law is bastardised and thrown overboard.
According to him, the judgements and pronouncements portend grave danger for the State and the people, as they are a recipe for chaos, confusion and unabated crises.
Osumah further lamented a situation where the case bordering on the defection of the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers is relegated to the background while other contending issues are given undue preference and preeminence, saying the defection case is rather the kernel and pivot on which every other matters concerning the political crisis in the State gravitate.
The labour leader, therefore, stressed the need for the execution of the Supreme Court judgments and pronouncements to wait, pending the final determination of the defection suit, describing as hasty and preposterous the issuance of a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Fubara by the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, to present before them the 2025 Budget of the State.
Osumah equally reminded civil servants in the State that the time has come for them to boldly rise up and defend one of their own, and never allow the shenanigans of the old order to overwhelm and subject them once more to the throes and pangs of penury, poverty and needless suffering and hardship.
He recalled with glee that Governor Fubara has wiped away their tears, by not only providing a conducive environment for them to operate but also making sure that their welfare needs are given top priority, thereby restoring and providing all that the enemies of the State had denied them in the past.
While reiterating that the entire workforce in the State vehemently reject the judgments and pronouncements of the Supreme Court, Osumah said the apex court has through such judgements and pronouncements, declared war against the State and her people.