Participants at a media roundtable in Lagos have highlighted the importance of consistent reportage of the statutory government audit reports at federal, state and local government levels.
The participants, comprising 40 editors, gathered at the Third FrontFoot Media Roundtable to discuss “The Nexus Between Media and Government Accountability”.
According to a communique, made available on Sunday, the editors, from leading print and online publications, gathered in Lagos on Thursday to deliberate on the state of media reportage of governmental activities.
The communique signed by Mr Eze Anaba, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr Ken Ugbechie, Vice President (South), Guild of Corporate Online Publishers and Mr Emeka Izeze, Director & Partner, FrontFoot Media Initiative, said the senior media managers, observed that consistent reportage of the statutory government audit reports would enable the media to improve its ability to hold governments accountable.
“Audit reports are mandatory for all levels of government per the 1999 Nigerian Constitution. Governments produce the audits, thus providing credible insight into managing state resources,” the communique said.
The participants noted that some governors had expanded their powers to emasculate the office of the Auditor-General. They were unhappy with the hindrances in the way of media scrutiny of governments as stipulated in Chapter 2, Sections 2 and 22 of the Constitution.
They emphasised the imperative of collaboration among players and stakeholders for the sustainability of the media ecosystem.
The senior journalists also called for enhanced cooperation among the media and civil society organisations.
They listed Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, Media Rights Agenda and the FrontFoot Media Initiative among such organisations.
The cooperation, according to the participants, would facilitate development of training and support programmes.
They resolved that the media must act in several positive ways to uphold its constitutional obligations and ensure its continued survival to serve Nigeria.
The media chiefs said it was important to consider the establishment of a Libel Defence Fund to assist media houses facing legal attacks for defamation.
They also stressed the need to improve the content and context of reporting of all issues, including government audit reporting.
The participants urged the media to enhance professionalism within its ranks to minimise troubling trends such as wilful plagiarism, wrongful or non-attribution of story sources.
They stressed the need to pay attention to technology’s paradoxical attributes for the media.
“Tech is an enabler and is growing in application in the industry. However, it has created a severe divide between tech-compliant personnel deficient in journalism know-how and experienced journalists who need more digital technical knowledge and ability. The media must bridge the gap between technology and journalism,” the participants said in the communique.
They also said that the media must prioritise capacity building and education for its new intakes and retraining for old hands.
“Passion must exist alongside ethics, capacity, and knowledge. Editors and supervisors must pay closer attention to the activities and output of outstation personnel and ensure compliance with organisational ethos,” the participants said.
They decried the absence of official support of any kind to the media despite the growing cost of essential inputs in the industry.
The participants said that the media must seek government support through tariffs and policies to create an enabling environment for sustainability.
Mr Lanre Idowu, of the National Media Complaints Commission, at the event, reported on the work of the media ombudsman.
He said the body would enhance public confidence in the media by promoting higher standards of journalism ethics and defending the profession.
He disclosed that the Commission had resolved one of the cases brought to it to the satisfaction of the parties involved.
Idowu asked the public to take advantage of the forum.
FrontFoot’s Sonala Olumhense, who participated virtually from New York called on the media to be up to its responsibility of holding power to account.
FrontFoot Media Initiative organised the roundtable to provide feedback to the media community on its three-year training programme for journalists across the country.
The training done across the country was on the rudiments of audit reporting for enhanced government accountability.
(NAN)
