20 November 2008
Owners of newspapers in Nigeria under the umbrella of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has promised to establish an office of Ombudsman whose task will be to investigate and make recommendations on complaints by members of the public against the press in line with the tradition in many countries.
This was part of the communique the group issued at the end of its Annual General Meeting in Lagos on November 13.
In a statement signed by its President, Chief Ajibola Ogunsola, and the General-Secretary, Ms Comfort Obi, NPAN said the "delegates to the meeting reviewed the activities of the association, developments in the media industry and the state of the nation. After exhaustive deliberations, the Association resolved that the:
• Federal Government should hasten the implementation of policies to revamp decaying infrastructure especially power supply and roads;
•The growing sensitivity of the Federal Government to dissent and criticisms is a cause for public concern. The Association urged the government not to waiver in its professed commitment to the rule of law and the deepening of a democratic culture;
•The political reforms announced by the government especially the ones relating to the review of the constitution and the electoral system should be completed to make the constitution a more democratic document and ensure that peoples' votes count; and
•The Federal Government should be mindful of concerns being expressed locally and internationally about the waning of the anti-corruption campaign. The government should intensify the fight against corruption by strengthening the capacities of the anti-corruption agencies."
Also, the association said it would intensify its dialogue with the leadership of the National Assembly to iron out the misconceptions on the Freedom of Information Bill, and had resolved to dialogue with the new core investors in the Nigerian Newsprint Manufacturing Company Oku-Iboku, Akwa Ibom State and determine ways to collaborate with the investors for the growth of the industry.
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