SPEECH BY PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN GUILD OF EDITORS AT THE OPENING OF CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP ON MARCH 1, 2022, IN YOLA, ADAMAWA STATE.

Let me formally welcome you to this capacity building workshop for editors. I thank God for granting  journey mercies to those who came from outside Yola  and even members who reside here.

This is the third in the series of workshops that will be held in the six geo- political zones,  under a project which is being fully supported by the US Embassy in Nigeria.

Yesterday, we had a robust and a hugely successful Town Hall meeting where the role of the media in setting agenda for a sustainable democratic culture was x-rayed. Participants drawn from all walks of life were frank in telling us how well we’ve performed in this regard and how we can do better.  The interest shown by the participants points to the fact that Nigerians are genuinely interested in sustaining and deepening our  democracy.

This workshop is designed to improve the  capacity of editors to carry out their  constitutional responsibility of holding government accountable to the people. It is true that Section 22 of the 1999 constitution gives us  a  responsibility without corresponding powers to carry it out, but we have to find a way to fulfill that mandate within the ambit of the law.

The history of democracy

 in Nigeria won’t be complete without the mention of the media. We have invested so much in the democratic project  to  abandon it halfway. We played a critical role  in the  enthronement of democracy with some journalists paying the supreme price ,   while others suffered various forms of deprivation, including imprisonment  So, we have no choice than to join other critical stakeholders to nurture and deepen democracy.

There is no doubting the fact that journalism thrives better

 in a democratic dispensation ,  no matter its shortcomings.

The only way to make the people appreciate democracy is to ensure it meets their needs and aspirations. In any case, democracy is only   meaningful with full participation of the people . Citizens’   confidence in democracy is deepened when elected officials listen to them and meet their needs. 

How have we  performed in tracking budget implementation?

In my speech at the opening of the Town Hall meeting yesterday, I said that the media as a watch dog has a duty to monitor governance and hold elected public officers accountable to the people.

Some of us are not pleased with  the   concentration of the attention of the media  to the activities of the Federal Government at the detriment   happenings at the state and local governments.

This has allowed state governors , who most often sit on the allocations of the local governments,c to get away with so many illegalities .  In fact , some people now refer to them as demi- gods.

They incapacitate the Houses of Assembly , making it impossible for them to hold them accountable.  Some State Assemblies even  pass budget proposals submitted by their governors  within two days without  scrutiny.

The State and local governments deserve our attention because they  receive over   43% from the  Federation Account.  That’s huge,c if you ask me.

Some Governors travel out of this country for six weeks without handling over to any one  , and this  won’t attract media attention. .

We have lined up thought provoking topics for this workshop.  A speaker from the US, David Mark,  will speak on “:the Role  of Editors in Preserving Democracy”   He will also handle the topic ” The Role of  Editors In Democratic Process: Setting Agenda, Before, During and After General Elections”

Mark is is a Political Journalist , author and public speaker .

Professor Jacob Jacob of the Communication and Multi – Media Department of  American University of Nigeria,  will present a paper on”Tools for Editors to Fact Check and Manage more Efficiently” . You will agree with me that we need this paper to check fake news.

Our good friend, Professor Umaru Pate , Vice Chancellor of  the Federal  University, Kashere, Gombe State, will be speaking on ” The Freedom of Information Act: Editors’ Tool For Good Governance”

Dear colleagues, I want us  to participate actively in this workshop in order for us leave here with a resolve to be better editors sufficiently equipped to monitor governance and contribute to consolidating our hard – earned democracy.

I thank the US Embassy in Nigeria for making this workshop possible.  I thank  the resource persons  for accepting to be here today.

On this note, I welcome you to Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, the Land of Beauty.