Journalists To Make Government Accoutable To Citizens

At the end of a 2-day workshop organized by Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Benin City, in collaboration with Foundation for Sound Mind and Crisis Intervention (FOSMACIN), Uyo, Journalists were told to make the government at all levels accountable to the people.

Participants at the workshop agreed there should be a sustained synergy between media professionals and Civil Society Organisations in engaging the Akwa Ibom State Government on institutionalizing good governance so as to fortify efforts directed at holding government accountable.

Participants at the two-day workshop in Uyo

The workshop appealed to Akwa Ibom State Government to put machinery in motion to enact relevant laws such as Fiscal Responsibility and Public Procurement Laws among others, to strengthen good governance practice in the state.

In the communiqué issued at the end of the workshop participants also agreed that the media should more than ever before focus on issue-based analysis and reporting in order to achieve their agenda setting function.

It also add that “the media should move away from reporting and laying emphasis mostly on government activities, but also make effort to report the people’s condition, position on issues and demands such that they are able to bring to the front burner reports that are of utmost benefit to majority of the people”.

The participants called on “Akwa Ibom State Government to walk the talk on industrializing the state to provide the needed employment for the citizens”.

The workshop which took place at EMMJM Hotels and Suites held in pursuance of “Strengthening Oil Revenue Management in Niger Delta Project Phase II” which ANEEJ is currently implementing with support from EED Germany lasted between 14^th  and 15^th November 2012 with the theme, “Engaging the government; holding the government accountable; making the government responsible, building an enlightened and active citizenry”.             

The workshop, apart from seeking to strengthen the capacity of journalists to hold Government accountable in areas of good governance, also threw up opportunity to equip participants with extra media oversight capacities as well as develop critical, creative and strategic thinking skills.

Twenty participants who were in attendance cut across both print and electronic media from Akwa Ibom State.

This Paper can report that participants used the opportunity to appreciate the organizers of the workshop including EED for the opportunity afforded them to benefit from the said programme.

Participants  commended Akwa Ibom State Government for the development of infrastructure in the state but noted that necessary legislations to guarantee good governance were not in place in the State thereby posing a threat to the sustenance of such initiative beyond governor Akpabio’s administration.

It  condemn the recent arrest of journalists by some overzealous police officers for covering a protest by former councilors in Akwa Ibom State.

Participants also noted that despite the constitutional provisions that empowers Journalists in Chapter 2(22) of the 1999 Constitution as amended; Journalists were not taking advantage of such provisions to track government expenditure and ensure that it synchronized with revenue inflow.

According to the participants, external influence/interference from media owners and other well placed Nigerians were found to limit the extent to which journalists could exert their professional skills to hold government accountable on issues of good governance.

Participants also noted that poor remuneration and welfare/security for Journalists were critical challenges militating against the proper performance and good professional conduct of the average media personnel, thereby creating a limitation to the extent to which they could report.                        

The Communique was signed on behalf of the participants by Comrade Emmanuel Effiong, UPDATE Newspaper and Chairman, Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Nigeria Journalist, Akwa Ibom State Chapter and Innocent Edemhanria of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) as facilitator.

Presentations were made by Mr Tony Abolo of Tonbole Productions Ltd and Mr Dada from Benin City.