The NBC had in a letter issued a directive asking journalists, television and radio stations in Nigeria to stop glamourizing and giving too many details on the nefarious activities of terrorists and kidnappers during their daily newspaper reviews.
But SERAP in a letter signed by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said the contents of the directive by the NBC are entirely inconsistent and incompatible with Nigeria’s obligations under article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
SERAP called on the Federal Government to withdraw what it called the repressive directive within 24 hours of the publication of the letter or face legal actions.
The organization expressed concern that the contents of the NBC directive would impermissibly restrict the rights to freedom of expression, information, and victims’ right to justice and effective remedies that are central to public debate and accountability in a democratic society.
It said reporting on the growing violence and killings in many parts of the country is a matter of public interest, adding that the directive by the NBC would have a disproportionate chilling effect on the work of those seeking to hold the government accountable to the public.
