The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has expressed concern that the media industry in the country is suffocating under the prevailing economic challenges facing various sectors.
In a communique at the end of its first quarterly Standing Committee meeting for 2016 held on March 18, 2016 in Abuja, the NGE said the present economic situation poses a threat to the survival of traditional media in particular and credible information dissemination.
It therefore urged the government to review policies that impede the operations of the media in order to sustain democracy and avoid job losses.
The Guild in the communique signed by its President, Garba Deen Mohammad and Assistant General Secetary, Mary Atolagbe, noted that the current economic challenges facing the country has made the need to diversify the economy more compelling.
The federal government was urged to quickly evolve very clear and productive policies on mining and make agriculture more attractive through the provision of soft loans and other incentives that would facilitate the development of the sector.
In the light of the rising cases of abductions and abuse of minors across the country, the NGE called for the adoption of very strong policies that would protect the rights of children, and in particular under-age girls.
” The Guild expresses serious disappointment over the poor conduct of the last JAMB computer-based examinations. Describing it as a national embarrassment capable of truncating the destinies of future leaders, the Guild therefore, implores government to immediately halt the approval of centres that lack the capacity to ensure seamless conduct of such examinations.
” Finally, the Guild also acknowledges the recent changes in the status of its leadership and unanimously agrees on a handover plan that will culminate in a change of baton at its next Standing Committee Meeting,” the communique stated.
