The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has urged the federal government to expedite its economic reform program and swiftly provide relief to the long-suffering Nigerian populace. The call was made in a statement issued after the association’s 2023 Annual General Meeting held on November 8, 2023, in Lagos, and was signed by NPAN President Mallam Kabiru Yusuf and General Secretary Mrs. Angela Emuwa.
The statement outlined the following resolutions:
The Federal Government should promptly implement its economic reform program to alleviate the challenges faced by Nigerians.
The NPAN expressed concern about Nigeria’s lack of a robust paper culture for educating and mobilizing its citizens, emphasizing the need for the government to review policies on the paper industry to support education and newspaper sector development.
The poor state of the newspaper industry was identified as indicative of a weak democratic state, with the NPAN highlighting the correlation between strong democracies and vibrant print media.
The NPAN welcomed the establishment of the Media Ombudsman, a collaborative effort involving various media organizations and supported by the MacArthur Foundation. The Ombudsman aims to address ethics and self-regulation in the media industry.
The association expressed optimism about the Ombudsman’s success, believing it will expand self-regulation and counteract advocates of a government-controlled press that could encroach on free speech.
The NPAN announced its intention to launch a Media Trust Fund, aiming to provide support to essential aspects of the media, including the Ombudsman, with the goal of strengthening and enhancing the media landscape in Nigeria.
