Israel Umoh
A media guru, Tonnie Iredia, has called on National Assembly to amend Section 308 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) to bar public office holders covered by immunity clause from prosecuting persons especially journalists while they are in the office.
Sections 308 states:
(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Constitution, but subject to subsection (2) of this section –
(a) no civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a person to whom this section applies during his period of office;
(b) a person to whom this section applies shall not be arrested or imprisoned during that period either in pursuance of the process of any court or otherwise; and
(c) no process of any court requiring or compelling the appearance of a person to whom this section applies, shall be applied for or issued:
Provided that in ascertaining whether any period of limitation has expired for the purposes of any proceedings against a person to whom this section applies, no account shall be taken of his period of office.
(2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to civil proceedings against a person to whom this section applies in his official capacity or to civil or criminal proceedings in which such a person is only a nominal party.
(3) This section applies to a person holding the office of President or Vice-President, Governor or Deputy Governor; and the reference in this section to “period of office” is a reference to the period during which the person holding such office is required to perform the functions of the office.
Making the call at the opening of 2022 Press Week by Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council in Uyo on Monday, Iredia, a one-time Director of Public Affairs in the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), described as unfair for those exempted by immunity clause from prosecution to equally prosecute others at the same time.
Iredia, a professor of Mass Communications, stated ‘‘People immuned from suit while they are in the office should not be distracted by taking people especially journalists to courts. Section 308 must be properly interpreted.’’
Speaking on the topic: Media as Facilitator of Good Governance in Developing Societies, Iredia identified causes of failure in governance in the country to include rather than secure the people top leaders are asking them to engage in self defence and poorly managed economy leading to Nigeria becoming the world’s poverty capital
Other failures, according to him, are weak governance priorities- too little allocated to education, health etc, Politics is the only growing industry, heavy budgets go to politicians e.g. NASS and electioneering time higher than that of governance.
He stressed the need for the media to intervene because they all powerful: can instigate war and can also serve as a tool for peace & integration, gatekeeper and mirror of society : Can look into the horizon and signify early warning signals and can set the national agenda of a people.
Other reasons are that the media had done it severally before and can do it again, fought for independence against colonialists, tackled low pace of governance of early democrats, and worked ceaselessly to oust Military Rule.
However, the former NTA Director-General identified factors that have helped to weaken the media in the performance of their sacred duties.
‘‘Political leaders are clamping down on the media in some locations, ownership control: quite often undermining ethical values of the media, obsolete facilities: distorting performance, poor remuneration: discouraging high productivity and self-censorship/corruption: reducing media credibility,’’ he recounted.
He, therefore, counseled the media to help the society to increase public enlightenment, provide too much information, too little education, project the sovereignty of the people, highlight the issues of Rule of law, as well as encourage free and fair elections through balance and objectivity in media coverage.
Others areas are the need for media give more support for gender and minority rights and improve media standards, more attention to manpower development schemes, create more room for robust, carry out Investigative journalism, make better use of social media as well as deepen professional unions.
