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The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, WSCIJ, stands firm in its commitment to upholding democratic values and human rights in Nigeria.
In a statement signed on Tuesday by the WSCIJ’s Executive Director/CEO, Motunrayo Alaka, the centre emphasised that the right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental right of every citizen as enshrined in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“WSCIJ therefore join other stakeholders to call on authorities to put in place measures to prioritise the right to peaceful assembly of citizens and journalists’ safety in the light of reported upcoming protests.
“As revealed in WSCIJ’s 2022 media monitoring report, ‘Hushed Voices and the Media’s Defence of the Civic Space’, journalists face significant risks while covering protests as 22.7% of the 75 documented incidents affecting journalists occurred at protest venues.
“These cases of harassment, violence, and suppression not only jeopardise journalists’ safety but also threaten the freedom of the press.
“The government and its relevant agencies have an obligation to protect journalists to maintain a healthy democracy and ensure the media can operate without fear of reprisal.
“Non-violent protests are a vital form of democratic expression. They allow citizens to draw attention to systemic issues and demand change.
“The recent call for protest, which has gained momentum in the media under the hashtag “#EndBadGovernanceinNigeria,” is driven by rising cost-of-living evidenced by sharp rise in inflation and increase in food prices.
“These factors have intensified public grievances and prompted widespread calls for action,” the statement noted.
The centre recognised the critical role of a free and robust civic space to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance.
“The work of investigative journalists and reporters is linked to the health of this space as they serve as watchdogs to bring to light issues that affect public interest and hold those in power accountable.
“The Nigerian government has a duty to protect and facilitate the right to peaceful assembly and expression. It is obliged to ensure law enforcement agencies respect and uphold these rights without resorting to intimidation or coercion.
“Through, the WSCIJ’s Civic Space Guard Project in collaboration with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and the Netherlands Embassy in Nigeria, remains committed to defending the rights of journalists towards a safer and more open civic space.
“State and non-state actors must respect the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” the statement added.
The WSCIJ expressed its committment towards supporting efforts that promote freedom of association, expression, and participation, “and we stand with journalists and reporters as they carry out their vital work in service of accountability, truth and justice”.
