September 24, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has commended the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), the Nigerian media Ombudsman, for its “impartial and thorough investigation, which found Daily Trust’s report on the Samoa Agreement to be inaccurate, misleading, and not in line with the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists”.
THEWILL earlier reported that the Ombudsman had in its 19-page report released on Monday, said Daily Trust was “inaccurate” on the Samoa Agreement and failed to meet journalistic standards as stipulated in Article 2.1 of the 2022 Revised Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists. It directed the media to issue an apology in both its print and online editions, as well as a commitment to take internal editorial steps to prevent future occurrences.
The commission berated the Federal Government over poor handling of issues around the Samoa Agreement, stating that had the government demonstrated “greater openness, transparency and accountability” in dealing with matters relating to the deal, “the attendant conjectures and speculations about the content of the Samoa Agreement could have been avoided”.
Reacting to the verdict in a statement signed on Tuesday, by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, the Federal Government said it would take steps to ensure that Nigerians are adequately informed about matters of public interest.
The statement reads: “The Federal Government commends the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), the Nigerian media Ombudsman, for its impartial and thorough investigation, which found Daily Trust’s report on the Samoa Agreement to be inaccurate, misleading, and not in line with the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists.
“This ruling serves as a testament to the importance of journalistic integrity and accountability and also a reminder of the crucial role the media plays in shaping public perception through truthful and accurate reporting.
“The public expects that news outlets will adhere strictly to professional ethics and conduct by ensuring that their reportage is factual, fair, and balanced. This way, injurious reporting such as the one done by Daily Trust could be effectively avoided.
“The Federal Government recognises that a free press is a pillar of democracy but with this freedom comes the responsibility to report news in a manner that is accurate and devoid of misinformation. It is only through this commitment to truth that the media can effectively hold the government and institutions accountable.
“The Federal Government appreciates the recommendations made by the NMCC, including the directive to Daily Trust to issue a public apology for its false report on the Samoa Agreement and take measures to prevent future occurrence.
“The call for increased transparency and proactive information dissemination by Federal Government institutions is duly noted, and steps will be taken to ensure that Nigerians are adequately informed about matters of public interest.
“The Federal Government is committed to fostering an environment where the media thrives while also remaining accountable to the ethical standards of the profession. We call on all media organisations to continue to uphold these standards and work collaboratively in the dissemination of accurate information, which is essential for a well-informed and active citizenry.
“Let this ruling by the National Media Complaints Commission against Daily Trust serve as a benchmark for journalistic excellence, and also strengthen the bonds between the media, the government, and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Nigeria had on June 28, 2024, signed the Samoa Agreement at the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium. The partnership agreement is between the EU and its Member States, on one hand, and the members of the OACPS on the other.
However, Daily Trust had on July 4, 2024, published a report titled, “LGBT: Knocks as Nigeria Signs $150 Billion Samoa Deal”. The report had claimed that the Federal Government signed an agreement with clauses requiring Nigeria to endorse the rights of Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex, and LGBTQI+ people. It also said that Nigeria would collect 150 billion dollars for endorsing the deal.
While the report generated outrage among Nigerians over the purported agreement that allows for LGBT rights, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, filed a letter of complaint to the media Ombudsman, the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), to compel the newspaper from circulating wrong and misleading information.
According to the complaint filed by Dr Ngozi Onwudiwe, Permanent Secretary of the Information Ministry, the Federal Government alleged that the Daily Trust report posed a threat to national security.
