Board of the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), known as The Ombudsman, has been charged to work towards ensuring highly professionalised and free media in the country.
Publisher of Vanguard newspapers and Life Patron of Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Sam Amuka, gave the charge to the nine-man commission after their inauguration.
According to a statement, yesterday, by the Executive Secretary of NPAN and Interim Secretary, NMCC, Feyi Smith, seven members of the commission, including the Chairman, Emeka Izeze, who was Managing Director of The Guardian, attended the inauguration on Monday, April 3.
Others present were Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Paul University, Awka, Anambra State, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna; Country Director, Care International (Nigeria), Dr. Hussain Abdu; Chief Executive Officer/Editor-in-Chief, Diamond Publications Limited and Founder, Diamond Awards For Media Excellence (DAME); Mr. Lanre Idowu; Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Edetaen Ojo; Mrs. Dupe Ajayi Gbadebo and Mrs. Eugenia Abu.
President of NPAN and Nigeria Press Organisation (NPO), Kabiru Yusuf, said: “We expect the commission to serve as an independent forum for resolving complaints about the press quickly, fairly and free of charge; maintain high standards of journalism ethics; and defend the freedom of the press as well as the right of people to know.”
While inviting all stakeholders to support the project, he said: “The media is weary of government’s regulation, because politicians tend to have short goals. We are happy to submit to peer regulation by collaborating with civil society, business and the profession.”
Publisher of ThisDay Newspaper/NPAN Life Patron, Nduka Obaigbena; Publisher of The Pilot and NPAN Council member, Dennis Sami; Publisher of BusinessDay, Frank Aigbogun; Publisher of Daily Times, Fidelis Anosike; President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mustapha Isah; President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo; and President, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Ms. Maureen Chigbo were also at the event.
