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| NGE President Eze Anaba |
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) Standing Committee convened on September 17, 2025, in Jos, Plateau State, to address pressing issues confronting the media, governance, and society.
Following intense discussions, the Guild issued a strong condemnation against the misuse of the Cybercrime Act by law enforcement, particularly the police, for harassing and unlawfully detaining journalists exercising their press freedom.
The Guild vowed to legally defend journalists’ rights and called for a comprehensive review of the Act to restore its original purpose of combating cybercrime such as financial fraud and identity theft.
In a communique issued by the Guild and signed by its president and Secretary General, Eze Anaba and Ukeh Onuoha respectively, the elite professional body of Managing Directors, Directors of News and Editors in print, broadcast, news agency and corporate online publishers in Nigeria, resolved as follows:
1. Strongly condemns the abuse of the Cybercrime Act (Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act by law enforcement agents, particularly the police, to harass, intimidate, arrest and illegally detain journalists who are exercising their rights to freedom of the press and thereby undermining democracy and the rule of law. The Guild will no longer tolerate this abuse and will use all legal means to ensure the protection of the fundamental human rights of journalists, freedom of the press and freedom of expression.
2. Calls for a thorough review of the Cybercrime Act and its use for the original intension, which is to fight cybercrime in relation to financial fraud, identity theft and attacks on computer systems, among others.
3. Reminds security agencies that the Ombudsman process instituted by the Nigerian Press Organisation is capable of addressing infractions to the Code of Journalism Ethics as has been proven in the past. Security agencies should respect this process by encouraging those who write petitions and making them the arbiter to approach the Ombudsman or seek legal redress instead of making security agencies tool of oppression, intimidation and harassment.
4. Calls on journalists to do their job with high level of professionalism by adhering to the Code of Ethics approved by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) and not to engage in any form of blackmail, and defamation whatsoever.
5. Expresses concerns about the increasing excesses of political actors, both in government and the opposition, and calls on them to address national issues and governance instead of personal attacks and name-calling. The conduct of politicians is worrisome, whether in government or the opposition. They should desist from personal attacks and name calling. They should address issues of governance and proffer solutions. Careless talks heat up the polity, incite people, instigate crisis and are capable of causing breach of peace and security of the nation. This should stop forthwith.
6. Reminds the three tiers of government - federal, state and local governments - that the main purpose of governance is to address fundamental issues bordering on citizens' socio-economic wellbeing and security, urging them to focus on governance and stop talking about future elections when they have not fulfilled their Social Contract in the subsisting term of office.
7. Urges the federal government and the security agencies to be more proactive and effective in tackling banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, herder-farmer clashes and other vices, for the purposes of saving lives, boosting food security and creating a more conducive environment for Nigerian citizens wherever they live.
8. Expresses thanks to the Plateau State governor, Caleb Muftwang, for playing host to editors and for striving to better the lives of the people and ensure a cordial relationship among all ethnic groups in the state.
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