Nigerian Press Organisation commences Ombudsman process

The Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) has taken a bold step to kickstart the new Ombudsman mechanism with the announcement of a nine-man board of the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), otherwise known as the National Ombudsman.

According to a statement by the President of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), who is also NPO President, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, the commission is a major step by the industry to strengthen public confidence in the media through prompt resolution of issues bordering on ethical breaches in media content.

The NPO, which is made up of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), mid-wifed the process with other strategic media players and the civil society, in particular the MacArthur Foundation

The commission members, drawn from the media, bar, the academia, and civil society are former Managing Director, Guardian Newspapers, Mr Emeka Izeze (Chairman); former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Abubakar Mahmoud; Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Academic) Paul University, Abia State, Prof Chinyere Stella Okunna; Development and Humanitarian Specialist/Country Director, Care International (Nigeria) Dr. Hussain Abdu; Editor-in-Chief, Diamond Publications Limited, Mr. Lanre Idowu; Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Mr Edetaen Ojo; Journalist, Lawyer and Arbitrator, Mrs. Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo; Broadcaster, Author and Columnist, Mrs Eugenia Abu, and the Chair, House of Representatives Committee on Information.

The commission will serve as an independent forum for resolving complaints about the press quickly, fairly, and free of charge; maintain high standards of Nigerian Journalism and journalistic ethics; and defend the freedom of the press and the rights of the people to know.

Prior to the announcement, each media house had been directed to institute at the newspaper level, the local Ombudsman. The National Ombudsman will serve as an appellate body for the local Ombudsman as well as a court of first instance.