The Federal government has been called upon to suspend the enforcement of the Cybercrime Act until some provisions of the legislation are reviewed and aligned with global standards.
The Nigerian Guild Of Editors and Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, made the call in Lagos at a news conference to mark World press Freedom Day.
The two bodies expressed some concerns about the cybercrime Act which they described as restrictive to the practice of jornalism in the country hence the need to critically review it for the good of the nation and the people.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors said it has set up a committee to look into the act with a view to propose amendments osf the act to avoid repression of journalism practice in the country.
President of the guild, Mr. Eze Anaba explained that there was need to look at the dangers of the cybercrime act to the practice of jornalism as security and law enforcement agencies had increasingly been using it to undermine journalism.
Mr. Anaba noted that some specific sections of the act were threats and pose danger to media practice in violation of the section 22 of the Nigerian constitution.
“They have weaponize every disagreement and mistakes, the cybercrime act is now being used to deny journalists of their liberty and to right practice instead of empowering journalists to be able to hold public office holders accountable noting that the section 15 of the act is repressive to the practice of jornalism”
He said Nigerians need the media now than ever before to stand up to the threat the politicians are constituting to the development of the country and democracy.
The deputy director of SERAP, Mr. Kolawole Oluwadare also expressed concern about the cybercrime act which he argued were a disguise to supress the media.
“We are concerned that the cybercrime act continues to be abused to directly violate media freedom and deny Nigerians of their internationally guaranteed human rights including the right to freedom of expression”
He also said the bodies are concerned about the persistence of threats to journalists safety and the potential effects of strategic law suits against public participation and harassment by security agencies and politicians.
The secretary of the guild, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren said that the guild had set up a committee to look into the cybercrime act and other laws stifling media practice and recommendations to President Tinubu and the national assembly for amendment or outright removal.
” We urge president Tinubu, National Assembly and the state governors and to genuinely uphold press freedom and ensure access to information to all Nigerians while calling the minister of justice to push for immediate amendment of the cybercrime act and other repressive laws”. He also called on the National Assembly to drop all bills targeting the regulations of social media and others capable of restricting freedom of expression, media freedom, civic space and undermine the effective enjoyment of the rights.