Media
By Christabel Ejenike
THE National Media Complaints Commission, NMCC, also known as the Ombudsman, has concluded its investigation into the Daily Trust newspaper’s July 4, 2024, front-page story titled “LGBT: Nigeria Signs $150 billion Samoa Deal.” The NMCC found that the report breached media professional standards by containing inaccurate and misleading information. This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman and Interim Secretary of the commission, Eluem Emeka Izeze and Feyi Smith.
In a 16-page decision issued on September 23, 2024, the NMCC directed the Daily Trust to take remedial action, including publishing an apology in its print and online versions. The Commission stated that the newspaper’s story was not accurate, balanced, or fair and fell short of the standards required in the journalism profession.
The controversy surrounding the report began when the Daily Trust alleged that the Federal Government had signed the European Union, EU, partnership agreement, known as the Samoa Agreement, with member states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States, OACPS.
According to the report, the agreement included conditional clauses that compelled benefiting nations to support the agitations of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer, LGBTQ, community for recognition.
However, the Federal Government disputed the report, claiming it contained “false and misleading” information. In a letter to the NMCC, signed by Ngozi Onwudiwe, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, on behalf of the minister, Mohammed Idris, dated July 8, 2024, the government stated that individuals and government officials had been subjected to hate speech, threats, intimidation, and cyberbullying across social media as a result of the alleged false report.
The NMCC’s investigation involved a thorough review of documents submitted by both the complainant and the respondent. The Commission ultimately found that 403-page Samoa Agreement does not contain any clause compelling underdeveloped and developing nations to support LGBTQ+ recognition, as a condition for getting financial and other supports from the European nations, and that there is no reference whatsoever in the Agreement to the issue of LGBTQ.
Hence the commission has given directives to Daly Trust to acknowledge and make amends of their err.
NMCC Directives to Daily Trust:
Acceptance of Inaccuracy: Daily Trust must acknowledge without equivocation that its reporting on the issue was inaccurate and misleading.
– Publication of Apology: Publish an apology prominently in both print and online editions.
– Internal Editorial Measures: Take necessary internal editorial measures to prevent future occurrences.
– Publication of NMCC Report: Publish the NMCC’s report on this matter within seven days of receiving it.
In addition to its directives to Daily Trust, the NMCC also admonished the Federal Government for failing to proactively disclose information about the Samoa Agreement to the public. The Commission emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in governance, stressing that proactive information dissemination is crucial in the digital age.
The NMCC’s final report has been transmitted to the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and the Daily Trust newspaper. The Commission remains committed to providing an independent forum for resolving complaints about the media and upholding high standards of journalism practice and ethics.
25th September, 2024.
C.E.
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