Code of Practice: GOCOP slams NITDA, says move is toxic, undemocratic, attempt to muscle press

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, (GOCOP) has expressed worry on the recent “Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries” issued by the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, asserting that the policy and its prescriptions are “toxic, undemocratic and a clear affront on free speech and civil liberties which the media promotes”.

While emphasizing that its position is a Constitutional responsibility which, it would not for any reason whatsoever, abdicate under the weight and encumbrance of the NITDA Practice Code, GOCOP in a statement jointly signed by Maureen Chigbo, its President and Collins Edomaruse, Secretary-General, said the organization strongly rejected the Code “as it clearly serves to undermine the media”, contending that. It is another attempt by the government to gag the media and suppress press freedom in general.

GOCOP argued that the Code is unknown to the Constitution, as well as against the principles of free press, free speech and civil liberties as enshrined therein.  

It established: “Nigeria is a democracy, and in a democracy, it is the duty of the National Assembly (Congress or Parliament) to make laws for the promotion of good governance. While it is the duty of the National Assembly to make laws, it is also the responsibility of the Judiciary to interpret the laws while the Executive is saddled with execution of the laws and allied issues of leadership.

“Therefore, NITDA, an Executive agency, by issuing a Practice Code to regulate the media, has clearly over-reached itself and cannot be allowed to surreptitiously usurp the powers of the National Assembly”.

The body maintained: “The provisions and prescriptions of the Code are largely undemocratic, primitive, anti-press freedom and they seek to promote anarchy and perpetrate a culture of silence across all media platforms for as long as information is conveyed, transmitted or disseminated via the Internet using computers or any electronic device including handhelds. It seeks to deny journalists, especially GOCOP members whose duties are carried out via internet-enabled devices, the right and privilege to source and disseminate information, and hold government accountable as enshrined in the Constitution.

“The Code is an attempt to take away the powers which the Constitution has guaranteed the press. In effect, the Code is an aberrant intruder into the field of Journalism which NITDA has no legal powers to regulate”.

GOCOP reiterated that it has put in place structures for effective peer review and regulation of its members through its Disciplinary Committee/Ombudsman, which has the sole responsibility of checking the excesses of the Guild’s members, while members of the public can approach it, to seek redress in case of unprofessional conduct by its members.

The statement noted that as a body of Online Journalists, GOCOP takes its responsibility of self-regulation very seriously.

Following its concerns, the organization resolved that it found the fresh move as a plot to suppress the media both reprehensible and repugnant as it shows the desperation of the Federal Government to muzzle free press.

It recalled that the government had failed in the past in its desperation to enact anti-free press laws including The Protection from Internet Falsehoods and Manipulation and Other Related Matters Bill, 2019, commonly known as Social Media Bill.

The organisation resolved further: “Need we remind this government that it rode to power on the crest of free press, especially as it took advantage of the social media, which it now wants to render prostrate.

“GOCOP strongly rejects the NITDA Practice Code in its entirety. It is a baseless affront on the Constitutional powers vested in the media.

“We urge the federal government to jettison the NITDA Code and rely on existing regulations such as the Cybercrime Act, Laws of Defamation, Libel and Privacy to protect itself and citizens against any perceived unprofessional journalistic conduct”.

GOCOP advised NITDA, which it affirmed is operating in alignment with some authorised Government agencies namely: the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), to jettison the code in its entirety or ready to face legal action.

It also called on the National Assembly (NASS) to call NITDA to order on its ill-advised move to usurp the powers of the Legislature.