Members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) met in Lagos recently and unanimously agreed there is need to amend the anti-media laws. They also stressed the need to engage other stakeholders to ensure effective amendment of the laws. They identified such other stakeholders as Ministry of Information, Department of State Services (DSS) and Inspector General of Police, among others.

Fielding questions from journalists, NGE Media Laws Reform Committee Chairman, Richard Akinnola, said, “our assignment is to review the various media laws. Our laws have not been formally repealed. Some of the laws predate independence while some were made by the military. Our committee will look at the laws and bring various stakeholders to see how we can amend them, for the betterment of not just journalists but everyone in Nigeria.”

On his part, Acting Editor-in-Chief/ Chairman Editorial Board, Daily Trust, Hamza Idris, observed, “all over the world, laws are made for the people and meant to serve the people. Where there’s need to amend them so they can make life better, so be it. That’s the reason behind the resolution of NGE to set up this committee.”

Former Managing Director, The Guardian, Martins Oloja, disclosed the purpose of the meeting is to, “deepen everybody’s understanding that we need to be free from certain encumbrances through the law. It is not just about the media, we are just part of the stakeholders. It is to deepen democracy, to make information available to everybody. Development can only come when people have access to information.”

Other participants at the event include, NGE President, Eze Anaba; NGE Vice President, Kabir Alabi Garba; NGE General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren; Managing, Director The Sun Newspaper, Onuoha Ukeh and former Editor Punch Newspaper, Gbemiga Ogunleye.