Ipc charges Journalists on ethics and professionalism
International Press Center (IPC) charged Nigerian media and journalists to be professional, ethical, issue-focused, gender and conflict sensitive in the reporting of the democratic governance and electoral processes.
The charge was made at Abuja on Tuesday, during a media training workshop themed “Using the Freedom of Information (FOI), Act for Investigative Reports on Campaign Finance and Covid-19 Accountability Issues”.
The project also seeks to equip journalists with appropriate skills to engage in the reporting of democratic accountability in order to check impunity in the electoral process and ensure that elected politicians are made to account for their campaign promises.
It also sought to equip Journalists with the understanding of the frameworks and issues in campaign finance, the understanding of the Freedom of Information Act and best practices in investigating and reporting political campaign finance issues.
Experts are of the view that the FOI Act is underutilized by citizens in the country going by the low level of awareness and monitoring of government programs going on in the country.
Resource persons and Journalists were brought from various parts of the country to to dig deep into the FOI Act and its application especially on campaign finances and covid-19 funds.
The Executive Director, Media, International Press Centre (IPC), Mr Lanre Arogundade who presented a paper on The Role of the Media in Ensuring Good Governance and Government Accountability”, urged journalists to deploy investigative methods in the reporting of COVID-19 issues.
He also advised the media to include women, people with disability, children and rural dwellers in political discourse.
“While not being oblivious of the obstacles that daily confronts us including all forms of threats by the government and the political class, media professional associations and bodies should be proactive and must realise that our best defense lies in sticking to good journalism”, Arogundade said.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda, Mr Edetaen Ojo who also presented a paper on ” Understanding the Key Features of the FOI Act, 2011″, said that the workshop would enhance the capacity of media and other key stakeholders on the use of FoI Act.
He also encouraged journalists to regularly report on political campaign finance issues as well as the covid-19 pandemic, in order to check political campaign financing and ensuring transparency and accountability towards government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Effective regulation of political campaign financing is essential to the success of Nigeria’s quest for free, fair and credible elections.
“Transparency and accountability are imperative in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 and to mitigate its negative economic impact on the citizens.
“Section 22 of the constitution has given journalists and citizens the onus of holding government responsible for financial spendings, adding that active citizenry is equally needed”, Ojo stated.
Mr. Eze Onyekpere, Director, Centre for Social Justice, CSJ, Abuja, in his presentation, gave insights on how to understand and report campaign finance and political expenditure frameworks and issues.
He stated that Journalist should leverage on the FOI Act to demand for proper accountability of funds especially the COVID-19 donor and electoral campaign funds.
The Award winining Ivestigative Journalist, Ms Tobore Ovuorie spoke on “Using Investigative Reporting Techniques to Monitor Compliance with Campaign Finance and Political Expenditure Regulations”.
