IPC holds roundtable on media role in deepening democracy

IPC holds roundtable on media role in deepening democracy

The International Press Centre (IPC) on Tuesday hosted about 80 delegates in a roundtable in Abuja, to enhance the media role in deepening democratic governance in Nigeria.

The Executive Director, IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade,  in his opening remarks said that the event was pursuant to the aims and objectives of Component 4: Support to Media of EU-SDGN II project.

Arogundade said the project was being implemented by the IPC (lead partner) and the Institute for Media and Society (IMS).

He said the project was to enhance the Nigerian media’s role in promoting democratic governance through fair, accurate, ethical and inclusive coverage of electoral processes and elections in Nigeria.

He added that the overall goals of the range of activities under the project, therefore, included but not limited to capacity building for journalists on issue focused, factually accurate and conflict-sensitive reporting of elections.

“It also includes capacity building for female candidates on strategic communications and media use and engagements on countering disinformation and misinformation.

“As well as to ensure that journalists and their news mediums pay maximum attention to ethics, professionalism and inclusivity, because such help to facilitate credible elections, without which democracy cannot be consolidated.”

Thppe IPC also presented a documented presidential campaign promises by President Bola Tinubu as independently monitored by the IPC media monitoring unit between October 2022 and February 2023.

In presenting the documented Presidential campaign promises, the IPC executive director expressed hope that it would give the media, the civil society and the citizens the opportunity to evaluate their implementation by the president.

“We urge the media and civil society to adopt the same approach to the elected governors and their campaign promises.

“For the media in particular, this should be done with particular reference to Section 22 of the constitution, which obligates the press to perform the watchdog role of monitoring governance and holding the government accountable to the people,” he said.

There was a lead presentation on “Beyond the Rhetoric of Campaigns: The Role of Citizens and the Media in Ensuring Democratic Accountability” was delivered by Dr Otive Igbuzor, Founding Executive Director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD).

Igbuzor in his presentation noted that democracy still remained the best form of government in spite of declining confidence in political leaders and institutions.

He said that election was the procedure through which people were put in positions of authority in the executive and legislative arms of government.

“It is well recognised all over the world that politicians make grand political statements and sweeping promises during campaigns which are difficult to implement while in government.

“Governing is more complex than campaigns. It is therefore imperative for citizens and the media to hold government to account for its campaign promises,” he said.

He, however, said that there were several tools that could be used to hold government and its agencies to account.

“Unfortunately, these tools are not being effectively utilised in Nigeria. Everyone interested in the development of the country must therefore popularise these tools, operationalise them and improve the transparency and accountability of government in Nigeria.

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“It is clear that political leaders have a great role to play not only in providing enabling environment for just and accountable government but in facilitating the process of holding government to account.

“This is why the citizens and the media must take more than a casual interest in the political leadership selection process in the country,” he further said.

By PRNigeria