Section 22 of the Nigerian 1999 constitution provides that: “the press, radio, television and other agencies of mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.”

By virtue of this provision, the constitutional powers and duties or obligation of the press are to help government realize the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy as contained in the constitution. The media or the press is also expected to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.
In other words, the press performs a nation builder role (development journalism) as well as being a watchdog of government actions or activities pertaining to governance, transparency and accountability.

The media being the fourth estate of the realm has got a lot to do in ensuring that good governance is enhanced in the country. Government (politics) and the media are inseparable; both cannot be isolated from each other because they are both institutions of the society. The media has been empowered by the society to represent its interest by checkmating the government of the day. Likewise, the government in power is responsible to the society.

Therefore, in a situation whereby the representatives in government get intoxicated by the virtue of their power, the society expects the media to put them back on the right track because absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Looking at section 22 of the 1999 constitution vividly, “the media are empowered at all time be free to uphold the fundamental principles of governance.” The keywords here are “all times” and “free” i.e. freedom to pursue or seek, gather, analyze and interpret, disseminate information pertaining to the governance of the general populace without prior restraint or constraint by the government or any other interest.

In fact the constitution also affirmed that government responsibility and accountability must be uphold by the media and further reported or disseminated to the general public. However, the accompanying problem to actualize these fundamental goals of journalism enshrined in section 22 is that, there are limitations to access or assessment of government held information.
These limitations arise from government argument that not all government activities should be made public. The government through the Official Secret Code Act and Criminal Code Act limit the extent in which the press or public officer representing the interest of government could divulge or reveal information received in confidence on the excuse that such matter is classified or confidential.

In section 39(1): Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection(1) of this section, every person shall be entitled to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinion.
The freedom of expression, including holding opinions, to receive and impart ideas or information is very fundamental to the development of any society because information is power and when the power is gotten, transformation changes can be achieved by the people. Consequently, the constitution says without prejudice i.e. without discrimination or favouritism every person shall be allowed to own a means of mass communication or information dissemination in the country.
It’s also important to say that the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights Law (1948) in article 19 of the document provides for the fundamental right of expression, holding of opinion and disseminating such opinion; receiving information from others as well as imparting through various ways of communication without interference or restriction.

In the light of the above, Nigeria is a signatory to this declaration because of her formal membership of UN. However, the enforcement and implementation of this declaration is not fully adhered to by the Nigerian government. Instances of this challenge are contained in the same section of the 1999 constitution that affirmed freedom of expression and the press.

Section 39(2) part ‘B’ says “No person other than the government or any other person or body authorized by the president shall be allowed to own, establish or operate television or wireless broadcasting for any purpose whatsoever.
Also section 39(3) (A-B): States that nothing in this section i.e. ‘freedom of expression and the press’, shall invalidate any reasonable law that is justified in any democratic society for the purpose of preventing the disclosure of information that is classified as confidential or official matter. This section further affirmed the restriction of persons in the employment of government services to disclose any information in which they are privilege to.

To this end, freedom of expression and of the press enshrined in section 39 is only workable on the one hand and limited on the other hand due to government restrictions and constrictions through various laws or statutes.

janus05:
Buhari and APC should get ready for a Nigerian press that has tasted "blood". They ain't seen nothing yet.

Scholes007:
those defending this old bastard under the pretence of privacy ,should have known that the moment he (the bastard aka buhari) became president elect there is no privacy.

ozoigbondu:
l am sure GEJ was well aware of all this but he did not use to supress saharareporters,preminum times,TVC,nations and all other oppoistion press because he is a true democrat who understands that freedom of press is an integral part of af a democracy not one dictactor turned democrat overnight


Buhari should keep calm and prepare for feasting of the press and other social media outfit on him

nortcentrallord:
What happened to the FOI bill or was it not passed into law or has it been suspended because that is the very 1st move of every military government even though this one has not been sworn into power.

koboko69:


A bastard will rule over you and your family for the next 4 years. Deal and live with it. If a bastard is rulling over you, I wonder what you are.

alaoeri:

Does GMB stop AIT from airing any news? Don't cover my events is different from don't air news about me, an ordinary citizen can chose who is & who is not invited to his events talkless of a President.
In order news AIT don chop wetin big pass them & Dokpesi should deal with it after all he has sold the integrity of the station for a plate of porridge.

Jesusloveyou:
Watchdog to govt activities,not to be watchdoging d good citizen of nigeria,spoiling their good name and image.

koboko69:
The poster above me WombRaiders should read the code of ethics of a journist. They have the right to reject airing the documentary if I breaches the code of conduct.

https://www.nairaland.com/2281798/see-code-ethics-nigerian-journalists

koboko69:
The poster above me WombRaiders should read the code of ethics of a journist. They have the right to reject airing the documentary if I breaches the code of conduct.

https://www.nairaland.com/2281798/see-code-ethics-nigerian-journalists

dustmalik:

They won't read. They will simply continue spewing rubbish.

omenka:
I'd be hugely disappointed should the president stop at this alone. I'd like to see a case in court with the defendants asked to give hard evidence as to all the accused the General of, from the stolen monies to sponsorship of terrorism.

WombRaiders:


Nonsense! How does running an expose documentary on a frontline candidate for presidency run contrary to ethics?

Buhari can still take AIT and the producers to court!

He is not owner of Nigeria by virtue of being elected president of Nigeria.

Ait has done more good to our democracy than a thousand buhari's can ever mutter.

Let me ask you this; today buhari is barring AIT from coverinhg him as president elect and has also declared AIT persona non grata in his innuguration, what will happen once he is sworn in? Will he barr AIT from covering his govt and presidency as well?

koboko69:


Wairlt till AIT's licence is revoked you call AIT unsubstantiated documentary and hate campaign an expose documentary. Una never see anything. As long as the constitution does not bar Buhari from covering his activites...he has done nothing wrong. Bare in mind he also has the power to revoke AITs license. I hope una nor go shout Dictator then. Im sure being in opposition is sweet. How are u enjoying it?

Scholes007:
those defending this old bastard under the pretence of privacy ,should have known that the moment he (the bastard aka buhari) became president elect there is no privacy.

koboko69:
The poster above me WombRaiders should read the code of ethics of a journist. They have the right to reject airing the documentary if I breaches the code of conduct.

https://www.nairaland.com/2281798/see-code-ethics-nigerian-journalists

WombRaiders:


Then take them to court!

Sue them for damages and get a public apology and undertaking.

This is how it is done.

The thing you apc supporters and buhari seem to not understand is the Buhari was not elected king or supreme ruler.

Even as a president, the only way he can fight any libel against him is in the courts.

He is not the court, judge, prosecutor and police! He is the president and his functions and roles as spelled out in the constitution does not include ostrisizing groups or establishments that report negatively on him!

Send that message to Buhari and let him know that we are not in 1984!