Accountability: Expert canvasses amendment of 1999 constitution to enhance media practice

A lecturer attached with the International Institute of Journalism, Dr. Eshemokha Maho has called for the amendment of section 45 of the 1999 constitution to enhance media practice in Nigeria so as to remove all barriers and ensure accountability in governance.

Our Kogi State Correspondent reports that Dr. Maho made the call in Lokoja during a lecture organized by the Kogi State Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists as part of activities marking the 2016 Press Week.

He opined that freedom of expression and freedom of the media in the American constitution was absolute, noting that “the first amendment to the American constitution provides that, the US Congress shall make no law bridging freedom of expression or freedom of the media which is not applicable in the Nigeria constitution”.

While throwing more light on the topic, “the media making democracy work,” Dr. Maho noted that the third estate of the realm plays important role in the sustenance of democracy, adding, “if there is information gap between the government and the governed, democracy will be under serious threat”.

He explained that, though section 22 and section 39 of the 1999 Nigeria constitution gave preference for the press to operate, there is need for the media to act as the conscience of the nation, rather than using their medium to promote sectional or individual interest.

The Kogi State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of journalists, Comrade Ali Atabor averred that the lecture was important because it will help media practitioners to be acquainted with what is expected of them for Nigeria to advance democratically.

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