Ombudsman: NPO Inaugurates 9-man Board

Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) has kick-started the new Ombudsman mechanism with the announcement of a nine-man board of the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), otherwise known as the National Ombudsman.

The commission is a major step to strengthen public confidence in the media through prompt resolution of issues bordering on ethical breaches in media content.

The NPO, comprising the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), mid-wife the process  with other strategic media players and the civil society, in particular, the MacArthur Foundation.

The commission in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday signed by the president, NPAN, NPO, Mal. Kabiru Yusuf said the members were drawn from the media, bar, academia, and civil society.

They are Mr. Emeka Izeze, former managing director, Guardian Newspapers (chairman),  Mr A. B Mahmoud, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and a member of the Body of Benchers; Prof Chinyere Stella Okunna, deputy vice-chancellor (Academics) Paul University, Abia State; Dr Hussain Abdu, a development and humanitarian specialist and country director, Care International (Nigeria); Mr Lanre Idowu, editor-in-chief, Diamond Publications Ltd and founder, Diamond  Awards For Media Excellence (DAME); Mr Edetaen Ojo, executive director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Mrs Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo, a journalist, lawyer, and arbitrator; Mrs Eugenia Abu, broadcaster,  and the chair, House of Representatives Committee on Information.

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The commission will serve as an independent forum for resolving complaints about the press quickly, fairly, and without charges; maintain high standards of Nigerian Journalism and journalistic ethics; and defend the freedom of the press and the rights of the people to know.

Prior to the announcement, each media house had been directed to institute at the newspaper level, the local Ombudsman. The National Ombudsman will serve as an appellate body for the local Ombudsman as well as a court of first instance.