HIGHLIGHTS OF DECISIONS AT THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, 23RD SEPTEMBER 2024

1. The meeting reviewed the flooding in some parts of the country, especially the one that destroyed almost 50 per cent of Maiduguri in Borno State.

The meeting backed the President’s idea of setting up a Disaster Relief Fund to be funded by a portion of the revenue accruing to the Federation account. Funds will also be solicited from the private sector.

2. The meeting resolved to set up a technical committee to conduct integrity tests on Alau Dam and other dams countrywide.
3. The Council also approved the Economic Stabilisation Bills, which embody the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy Reforms set up last year by President Tinubu. The bills seek to amend the income tax laws, promote the export of goods and services, reform the exchange rate regime and unlock foreign exchange liquidity. One of the bills offers tax relief to companies that generate incremental employment. Another offers personal income relief to people in private and public employment, from N200,000 to N400,000.

Another bill seeks federal and state collaboration to suspend certain taxes on small businesses and vulnerable populations. Among the taxes to be axed are road haulage levies, business premise registration levies, livestock levies, and market taxes and levies.

The Economic Stabilisation Bills, with the Council’s approval, will now be transmitted to the National Assembly for passage.

4. The Council approved a contract to build a 258 km 3-lane carriageway with continuous reinforced concrete pavement in Kebbi and Sokoto states. The stretch is part of the 1000km superhighway from Illela, Sokoto State, to Badagry, Lagos State. The section awarded starts from Silame in Sokoto state and terminates at Buya Town in Kebbi.
5. The council approved the revised estimated contract cost for constructing Bodo-Bonny Road with bridges across the Opobo Channel in Rivers State. The contract was awarded in 2014 for N120 billion and revised in 2021 to N199, 923,638,963.87. The FEC approved another increase to N280 billion, with an additional completion period of 12 months.
6. The council approved the rescoping and downward review of the contract to rehabilitate the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway at a lower cost of N740.79 billion. Julius Berger’s job now has a completion period of 14 months and includes the provision of solar lights.
7. Messrs CCECC Nigeria Limited was awarded two road contracts, including bridges in Kogi and Cross River, at a total cost of N133.4 billion. They are the construction of Cross River to Oferekpe Road and rehabilitating Kabba (Kogi State), Iyamoye-Omuo-Ikole-Ifaki-Ado Ekiti Road.
8. Messrs BDT International Limited was awarded the contract to repair the Gamboru Bridge along Gamboru-Ngala-Kala, Balde Road in Borno State. The cost is N3.2 billion, and completion will take 24 months.
9. Messrs CCECC Nigeria will repair the damaged loops and ramps of the Third Mainland Bridge superstructure and rehab Adeniji-Falomo Roads for N42 billion. Completion will take six months.
10. The council approved the N158 billion contract to construct service lanes for the Lekki Deep Sea Port through Epe to Shagamu-Benin Expressway. Dangote Industries will be awarded the contract under the Federal Government Road Infrastructure Development Fund and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
11. The council approved the contract for the dualisation of Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe Road in Ebonyi, Abia and Imo states. The road will be financed under the Federal Government Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
12. The councils also approved contracts for the repair of 14 bridges, roads, and flooded sections of Federal Highways nationwide.
13. The council approved at least seven memos brought by the FCT Ministry. Among them was the contract for the building of Judges Quarters in Katampe. Also approved was the contract to construct an access road from Ring Road 1 by N16 Shehu Shagari Way to Judges Quarters.
14. The council approved the contract for building an access road from Arterial Road N11 in Mabushi District to Judges Quarters within Cadstral Zone B07 in Katampe.
15. The council approved three roads in FCT satellite towns: the Pai-Gomani Road in Kuala Area Council, Aguma Palace-Radio Nigeria-New Market Road in Gwagwalada, and road upgrades in Bwari Area Council.
16. The council approved two memos presented by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation. One memo deals with the restoration of dignity and standardisation of national symbols, such as the national flag, coat of arms , national anthem, and national pledge. Council approved that the first stanza of the National Anthem should be rendered at all official functions, while the three stanzas should be for special occasions, such as `Independence Day, Democracy Day, Inauguration of the National Assembly, Children’s Day, Armed Forces Remembrance Day and Workers Day.

The Council approved adopting the third stanza of the New National Anthem as the National Prayer to replace the current National Prayer.

The second memo of the Ministry deals with the unveiling of the national values charter. The Council approved it.

 

REPORT OF THE NATIONAL MEDIA COMPLAINTS COMMISSION (NMCC) ON THE COMPLAINT BY THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AGAINST THE DAILY TRUST NEWSPAPER ON THE NEWSPAPER’S REPORTING ON THE SAMOA AGREEMENT

September 23, 2024

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Background

On July 8, 2024, the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) received a petition from the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, against the Daily Trust Newspapers alleging that its front-page publication on the Samoa Agreement on July 4, 2024, titled, “LGBT: Nigeria Signs $150 Billion Samoa Deal” was false and misleading and threatened national security.  The report alleged that the Federal Government had endorsed a European Union (EU) partnership agreement (referred to as the “Samoa Agreement”) with member states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), despite some conditional clauses that compel benefiting nations to support the agitations by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community for recognition.

The NMCC served a copy of the petition on the Daily Trust and invited her to respond. The NMCC, in line with its practice, then referred the complaint to a complaints’ committee to examine the complaint, and the defence entered by the newspaper, and report back to the main Commission.

The complaints’ committee, as provided in its practice, adopted a Documents-Only review procedure to reach its determination and accordingly, invited the Complainant and the Respondent to provide all relevant documents. The Complainant submitted three documents, while the Respondent handed in thirteen documents.

Analysis

The key document is the Samoa Agreement, identical copies were submitted by both parties. We sought to establish if the contents of the Agreement supported the conclusions reached by the Daily Trust newspaper or the phrases used in its reporting. We examined all the other reports submitted by the Daily Trust and weighed the allegations in the complaint, and the defence entered against the professional scale of standards provided in the 2022 Revised Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists to reach our findings and recommendations.

After an exhaustive review of the complaint and the defence, the complaints’ committee submitted its report which, after careful review and scrutiny, was adopted by the Commission. The conclusions and recommendations reached are as follows:

The NMCC directed that the Daily Trust should do the following:

1. Accept without equivocation that its reporting on the issue in question was inaccurate and misleading as its treatment of the report showed a lapse in news judgement and fell short of the expected standards of the 2022 Revised Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists.
2. Publish an apology prominently in both the print and online editions of the Daily Trust.
3. Take the necessary internal editorial measures to prevent a future occurrence.
4. Publish the report of the NMCC in this matter within seven days of receiving it.

The NMCC also found that the Federal Government’s handling of its public communication around the Samoa Agreement fell short of the standard that should be expected in a democratic society. It admonished the government to always demonstrate greater openness, transparency and accountability in future by adequately informing the public about such important matters, especially where they have previously generated widespread interest. Had this been done on this occasion, the attendant conjectures and speculations about the content of the Samoa Agreement could have been avoided.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

2.0 PROCEDURE ADOPTED

3.0 STATEMENT OF COMPLAINT

4.0 DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY THE COMPLAINANT

5.0 STATEMENT OF DEFENCE

6.0 DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY THE RESPONDENT

7.0 REVIEW OF DOCUMENTS PRESENTED AND ANY EVIDENCE LED IN SUPPORT

7.1 The Official Position of The Respondent

8.0 ANALYSIS OF THE POSITION OF THE RESPONDENT

9.0 OUR FINDINGS

10.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

On July 8, 2004, the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) received a formal complaint from the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation against the Daily Trust newspaper, published by Media Trust Ltd, in which it alleged that the newspaper published an article on July 4, 2024 “containing false and misleading information that severely threatens national security.”

The Ministry asserted that because of the alleged false report, “individuals and government officials have been subjected to hate speech, threats, intimidation, and cyberbullying across social media.”

It, therefore, requested the NMCC to intervene in the matter and, among other things:

• Carry out a thorough investigation of the alleged misleading publication.
• Direct the newspaper’s management to publicly retract and correct the alleged false information, with equal prominence as the original article.
• Direct the newspaper’s management to issue an unequivocal apology for allegedly recklessly disseminating false information; and
• Implement stricter editorial guidelines to prevent a repeat of such alleged unwholesome report by any newspaper in the future.

The NMCC acknowledged receipt of the letter from the Ministry The petition was  passed  to the management of the Daily Trust newspapers. They were requested to respond to the issues contained therein within a stipulated deadline.

Thereafter, the NMCC constituted a five-member complaints’ committee to consider the petition, review the statements of complaint and defence, and report to the Commission its findings. The committee was also directed to make appropriate recommendations on the measures to be taken in line with the mandate of the Commission, which is to resolve complaints speedily and fairly, with the view to maintaining high standards of journalism practice and journalistic ethics; and defending the freedom of the press and the rights of the people to know.

2.0 PROCEDURE ADOPTED

The committee, in line with its mandate and established practice, adopted a Documents-Only review procedure to address the issues at stake and reach its determination. This is a process where the allegations are determined without an oral hearing. The focus is on reviewing written documents submitted by the parties. In this case, there was no oral pleading or testimony. The committee weighed the allegations against Daily Trust, its defence against the professional scale of standards contained in the 2022 Revised Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists to reach its conclusion and make its recommendations. The report was carefully reviewed and adopted by the Commission.

3.0 STATEMENT OF COMPLAINT

In the complaint dated July 8, 2024, and signed by Dr.  Ngozi Onwudiwe, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, on behalf of the Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, the Ministry alleged that on July 4, 2024, the newspaper published a front-page news item titled “LGBT: Nigeria Signs $150 Billion Samoa Deal,” in which it reported that the Federal Government had endorsed a European Union (EU) partnership agreement (referred to as the “Samoa Agreement”) with member-states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), despite some conditional clauses that compel benefiting nations to support the agitations by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community for recognition.

The Ministry described the report as “false and misleading” and said that because of the alleged false report, “individuals and government officials have been subjected to hate speech, threats, intimidation, and cyberbullying across social media.”

It, therefore, asked the NMCC to intervene in the matter and, among other things:

• Carry out a thorough investigation of the alleged misleading publication;
• Direct the newspaper’s management to publicly retract and correct the alleged false information, with equal prominence as the original article;
• Direct the newspaper’s management to issue an unequivocal apology for allegedly, recklessly disseminating false information; and
• Implement stricter editorial guidelines to prevent a repeat of such alleged unwholesome report by any newspaper in the future.

The NMCC sent a formal acknowledgment letter dated July 10, 2024, and signed by its Interim Secretary, Mr. Feyi Smith, to the Ministry, informing it that the complaint was receiving due attention, and that the outcome would be duly communicated to the Ministry at the end of the exercise.

The Commission also wrote to the Management of the Daily Trust newspaper on July 12, 2024, informing it of the complaint against the newspaper. It provided the newspaper with a copy of the Ministry’s complaint and asked for its formal response within 14 working days, in accordance with the NMCC’s established procedure.

4.0 DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY THE COMPLAINANT

1. Letter of Complaint of July 8, 2024.
2. Copy of the lead story of Daily Trust of July 4, 2024, and its continuation on page 4 of the same edition. Headlined: “LGBT: Nigeria Signs $150 billion Samoa deal”, it also featured the following kickers:

• Clerics, CSOs furious
• It’s not about same-sex marriage – Minister’s aide
• N/Assembly didn’t consider agreement – Rep Yusuf

3. A 403-page copy of the Samoa Agreement, titled, “Partnership Agreement Between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States of the other part” dated Brussels, 19 July 2023.

5.0 STATEMENT OF DEFENCE BY THE RESPONDENT

The Daily Trust responded to the NMCC by a letter dated July 18, 2024, co-signed by Maryam Aminu Bello, Company Secretary and Legal Adviser, and Ahmed Ibrahim Shekarau, the Group Chief Executive Officer with numerous annexures, being copies of various stories and reports that the newspaper had published on the issue. The newspaper asserted that the allegations against it were “unfounded” and that the major strand of its story was that the Nigerian Government had signed the Samoa Agreement, which is an incontrovertible fact. It also stressed that at the time of the publication of its story on July 4, 2024, the version of the Samoa Agreement signed by the Federal Government was not available for review by the public. (Emphases ours)

6.0 DOCUMENTS SUPPLIED BY THE RESPONDENT

1. Copy of the lead story of Daily Trust of July 4, 2024, headlined: “LGBT: Nigeria Signs $150 billion Samoa deal”, with the accompanying kickers below:

• Clerics, CSOs furious
• It’s not about same-sex marriage – Minister’s aide
• N/Assembly didn’t consider agreement – Rep Yusuf
• Continuation of the story on Page 4 of the same edition

2. Opinion article by Mr. Sonnie Ekwowusi, titled “Nigeria should unsign the LGBT agreement (Page 17, Daily Trust, July 4, 2024).
3. Story, headlined: “Samoa Agreement signed in Nigeria’s interest – FG” (Page 5, Daily Trust, July 5, 2024)
4. “Report on Samoa Agreement: Our position” (Full page statement on Page 3, of the Daily Trust of July 8, 2024), signed by Maryam Aminu Bello Esq, Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser, Media Trust Group.
5. Opinion article by Suleiman A. Suleiman, titled “Samoa Agreement: The Daily Trust story got it wrong” (Back page of the Daily Trust of July 8, 2024).
6. “Suspend Samoa Agreement’s implementation – Reps tell FG”, front page lead story (with continuation on Page 4), Daily Trust, July 10, 2024.
7. Report, titled “Samoa report: FG to await position of Media Ombudsman”.

​· Reps make U-turn, Daily Trust, page 6, July 11, 2024

8. Story, titled: “Catholic Bishops, Ulama reject Samoa Agreement”, news report, with kicker, JIBWIS raises c’ttee to examine pact. (Page 10, Daily Trust, July 12, 2024).
9. Story, titled: “Samoa Agreement: NIPR raises committee of experts” (Page 30, Daily Trust, July 12, 2024).
10. Opinion article by Mr. Monima Daminabo titled: “Samoa Agreement: Sunnyside of the multilateral deal” (Page 17, Daily Trust July 13, 2024).
11. Opinion article by Kehinde Mary Bello, titled: “The Samoa Agreement: The benefits as compared to other similar agreements with the global south” (Page 18, Daily Trust, July 13, 2024).
12. A 403-page copy of the Samoa Agreement, titled, “Partnership Agreement Between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States of the other part”, dated Brussels, 19 July 2023.
13. Briefing Document on the Samoa Agreement with African, Caribbean and Pacific States prepared by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) said to have been provided by the Minister of Information and National Orientation during a press conference with the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning on July 7, 2024.

7.0 REVIEW OF DOCUMENTS PRESENTED

On August 21, 2024, the NMCC wrote another letter to the Daily Trust, requesting it to supply the Commission with a copy of the Samoa Agreement, which formed the basis of its report of July 4, 2024. The newspaper responded and provided the requested document under cover of a letter dated August 23, 2024.

The NMCC wrote a similar letter on August 21, 2024, to the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation requesting a copy of the Samoa Agreement signed by the Federal Government and any other relevant document. On September 6, the Ministry sent a 403-page copy of the Samoa Agreement, titled, “Partnership Agreement Between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States of the other part” dated Brussels, 19 July 2023, as the document that guided the signed Agreement.

The Commission took these steps to ensure that it had all the relevant information and materials to enable it determine the facts of the matter and establish the accuracy or otherwise of the details contained in the publication complained about.

In the interest of a speedy resolution of the matter, the NMCC proceeded to conduct a thorough review of the relevant documents made available to it as well as various reports on the issue by the Daily Trust.

The objective of our examination and the review process has been to ascertain if any violation of journalistic standards occurred, particularly with respect to the Revised Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists of 2022.

The first test we addressed was, WHAT REALLY DID THE SAMOA AGREEMENT SAY?

This question is germane to establishing if such an Agreement exists. Without a doubt, both the Complainant and the Respondent agree that there is such a document. What is contentious is the content. Whereas the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation says the Agreement did not have anything related to LGBTQ, the Daily Trust anchored its original report of July 4, 2024, on its claims that the signed Agreement contains such references.

Both parties also submitted the same 403-page document, referenced in 4.0 (3) and 6.0 (12).

Nowhere in that report of July 4, 2024, did the Daily Trust, however, directly quote any verified section of any version of the Samoa Agreement that substantiates the claim conveyed in its headline that the Nigerian Government had signed a $150 billion deal that is anchored on a conditional support/recognition for a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender and Queer lifestyle.

Instead, it quotes an opinion article written by Mr. Sonnie Ekwowusi on July 3, 2024, which alleges that the agreement requires support by parties to it for LGBTQ. The relevant portion of the article states as follows: “The Samoa Agreement, named after the Pacific Island, where it was signed on November 15, 2023, is a celebration of perversity. Certain Articles of the Agreement especially Articles 2.5 and 29.5 legalise LGBT, transgenderism, abortion, teen sexual abuse, and perversity in African countries. The signing of the Agreement by Nigeria constitutes a threat to the sovereignty of Nigeria and Africa. It further debases our democracy.” (Emphases ours)

Since Mr. Ekwowusi’s opinion article cites Articles 2.5 and 29.5 of the said Samoa Agreement, the least that the Daily Trust should have done was to read those sections and determine whether it was a valid conclusion to draw. It did not. Rather, it gave further vent to Ekwowusi’s criticisms of the Agreement: “I can wager that neither Minister Atiku Bagudu nor the Nigerian officials or diplomats who signed the Samoa Agreement on our behalf, understand the import of the agreement to Nigeria’s sovereignty, let alone the destructive impact of the Agreement in Nigeria. This explains why many African bodies including the AfBA have condemned the Agreement and respectfully urged African countries not to sign it. Not infrequently, Nigerian officials in Geneva, New York, and other places sign international agreements or treaties over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine with little or no knowledge of their contents.”

Article 2.5 of the Agreement states that “The parties shall systematically promote a gender perspective and ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed across all policies.” What does a “gender perspective” mean? What does it mean to mainstream “gender equality across all policies”? The Daily Trust did not address these questions that could have made the report more robust. However, we find nothing in the Agreement to directly suggest that this includes support for, or acceptance of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexual and Transgender and Queer individuals as forming part of a gender perspective.

Article 29.5 says, “The Parties shall support universal access to sexual and reproductive health commodities and healthcare services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes”. Again, beyond citing  Mr. Ekwuwosi’s reference to the section, without an accompanying quote, the Daily Trust’s reporting did not shed light on the matter. Instead, the rest of the report appeared to continue to build-up public opinion against the Agreement.

Samples:

“The word LGBTQ++ that Nigerians have been contesting is now part of our law because Nigeria has decided to sign it. So, Nigerians should be very bitter with what is going on. They should challenge their legislators and policy makers to explain why they chose to commit to this dangerous agreement.”—Richard Kakeeto, Family Watch International, Africa Region. This claim that the word LGBTQ++ is now part of our law is clearly false as it is not borne out by anything contained in the Samoa Agreement.

“Our stand is very clear. Whoever signed on behalf of Nigerians needs to apologise. All he (Tinubu) needs to do is to apologise on Nigeria’s behalf very nicely and tell them that the truth is we have not signed. We are withdrawing from the ACP-EU Treaty. That is all we ask the President to do. That is all we will accept. Anything less than that will not be accepted.”—Mrs. Omoye Olaye, Media Coordinator, World Council for Health (WCH) International and Foundation for African Cultural Heritage (FACH).

The Daily Trust maintained its editorial interest in the story the following day, July 5, 2024. In “Samoa agreement signed in Nigeria’s interest”, the Daily Trust in the 27-paragraph report, devoted four to the Information minister’s statement clarifying the import of the agreement. After publishing the minister’s clarification, the Daily Trust then proceeded to advance clear sentiments which tended to give a divisive religious colouration to the development by saying:

“The federal government has said the signing of the Samoa agreement was done in the country’s interest. The agreement reportedly has some clauses that compel underdeveloped and developing nations to support the agitations by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community for recognition, as a condition for getting financial and other support from advanced societies. Named after the Pacific Island Samoa, where it was signed, the agreement is gradually gaining traction, despite opposition by many countries that cherish Islamic and Christianity values, in addition to the sensitivity of their cultures.”

The Daily Trust additionally accommodated in its report the following statements, which were taken from social media and reproduced without any editing:

‘@AbdullahiAmiga: “I don’t know what a Samoa deal is but hearing LGBT in a country governed by “Muslim-Muslim” is dishonourable, disgraceful and shameful.”

It also went on to include this:

‘Writing from Abuja, Mallam Abdulkarim Muhammad Abdullahi, said: “To hell with the American Pentagon-funded conspiratorial CIA-FBI treacherous anti-muslim monetised homosexual cult project! We as true believers in Islam, Allah’s ordained and divine faith, cannot be compromised because we are worshippers of Allah Ubangji. This is the end of the road for the implementation of the controversial Satanic American Pentagon-instigated Samoa Deal. To hell with America and those who believe in promoting their LGBTQ experimental lifestyles fan zone therapy here in Nigeria.”

Once again relying uncritically on social media content in its reporting, Daily Trust also published the following:

‘On X, formerly Twitter, Abdul-Aziz Na’ibi Abubakar, writing via @jrnaib2, said: “To my fellow Muslims, those who were deceived to vote for the Muslim-Muslim Ticket thinking that Tinubu & Shettima will emulate Islamic style of leadership, look at where we’re today! We will now sit back; fingers crossed and watch whether the clerics that promoted Muslim-Muslim Ticket will come out and condemn Tinubu or not. Elections have consequences!”

7.1 The Official Position of the Respondent

After stirring public interest in the Samoa story through its various reports, the Daily Trust on July 8, 2024, published its reaction to the attendant comments on its reports on the issue in the preceding four days. In “Report on Samoa Agreement: Our position”, which goes for a signed editorial, Maryam Aminu Bello, company secretary and legal adviser, said: “We have also acknowledged lapses in our reporting on this particular matter, pointed out to us by professional colleagues, and we will review and take appropriate measures. As our editors understood it, the Samoa Agreement signed by Nigeria has expanded the definition of gender rights, from the traditional male-female, to a new norm, captured by the term LGBTQ (Lesbian; Bi-sexual, Gay, Queer). That is the crux of the matter. If the agreement does not aim at promoting such new orientation, widely accepted in Western countries, then we are wrong in our interpretation. We will readily apologise both to the government and to the public for crying wolf. We expect that those qualified, by training and experience, to make such a judgement, will weigh into the matter and we will as usual, publish all sides in the discussion, including that of the government. We wish to add that in this story, as in others over the last 26 years, the Daily Trust tried to be guided by public interest. It is also important for us to clarify some of the insinuations.” (Emphases ours)

8.0 ANALYSIS OF THE POSITION OF THE RESPONDENT

The import of what the Daily Trust published as highlighted above is that it acknowledges that its reporting was not thorough. It also pledged to “review and take appropriate measures.” It tried to justify its position that “the Samoa Agreement signed by Nigeria has expanded the definition of gender rights from the traditional male-female to a new norm captured by the term LGBTQ”.

The Daily Trust submitted as follows: “If the agreement does not aim at promoting such new orientation, widely accepted in Western countries, then we are wrong in our interpretation. We will readily apologise both to the government and to the public for crying wolf.” (Emphases ours)

In other words, even after four days of consistent reporting on the matter, the Daily Trust could not confidently say that the Agreement was unambiguous in its call for support for an LGBTQ lifestyle.

Article 2.0 of the 2022 Revised Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists, which deals with Accuracy and Fairness, has robust provisions which are germane to addressing the issues contained in the coverage of this matter. The relevant provisions state as follows:

“2.1 The public has a right to know and receive reliable information. Factual, accurate, balanced, fair, and responsible reporting is the ultimate objective of good journalism and the basis of earning public trust and confidence.

2.2 The haste to publish the news first must be matched by the need to get it right. The charge of Fake News is one that a journalist should not crave. A journalist should, therefore, refrain from publishing inaccurate and misleading information. Where such information has been inadvertently published, prompt equitable prominence should be given to the correction made.

2.3 Every effort must be made to publish the different sides to a story and have it reported in a context that is fair and meaningful. It does not relieve the journalist of the duty to report as truthfully as possible.

2.4 Journalists who copy accusations, or allegations against someone made in a different medium, or who retrieve these allegations from articles or recordings from the archive, must handle such information carefully. They cannot assume that the statements published previously have taken on the character of undisputed fact just because they were not contested.

2.5 Follow-up efforts on developing stories is important to give the public well-rounded picture of developments, which may not always end as they promised at the beginning.

2.6 Retouching a picture by an electronic method or formulating a picture caption should not be done in such a way as to mislead the reader. The journalist should always state, close to the picture, whether it has been altered by montage or retouching. This also applies to such material when it is filed.

2.7 A journalist must hold the right of reply as a cardinal rule of practice by allowing people in the news opportunity to respond promptly to the issues raised.

2.8 In the course of duty, a journalist should strive to separate facts from conjecture and comment,” (Emphases ours)

9.0 OUR FINDINGS

Contrary to Daily Trust newspaper’s reporting, the NMCC finds that the 403-page Samoa Agreement does not in fact contain any clause that compels underdeveloped and developing nations to support the agitations by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community for recognition, as a condition for getting financial and other supports from advanced nations.  Indeed, there is no reference whatsoever in the Agreement to the issue of LGBTQ.

The issue was apparently referenced in an earlier version of the Agreement, going by a Briefing document on the Agreement prepared by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) for the members and staff of the European Parliament as background material at the end of 2023, where it was noted that sexual and reproductive health and rights and migration were among the issues on which it was most difficult for the negotiators of the document to reach an agreement and that “some ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) States were reluctant to see the foundation agreement mention sexual orientation and gender identity (LGBTI rights) – an issue on which there are also differences among EU Member States.”

The Briefing document also acknowledged that several newspapers had reported that “prior to the signing of the agreement in Samoa, several African and Caribbean CSOs called on their governments not to sign the agreement, fearing that it might lead to modifying domestic laws, in particular to endorse LGBTI rights”. It added that as a matter of compromise, the text was modified such that the parties would only “commit to the implementation of existing international agreements – notably the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action on sexual and reproductive health and rights, the Beijing Platform on gender equality and their follow-up.”

The Briefing document explicitly acknowledged that this “wording however falls short of the EU negotiators’ ambitions.” Accordingly, there was no reference at all to LGBTI rights in the final Agreement that Nigeria signed, much less its being made a condition for support to underdeveloped or developing countries.

It was, therefore, inaccurate and wrong for the Daily Trust to state in its reporting that the agreement contained clauses compelling underdeveloped and developing nations to support the agitations by LGBTQ community, especially also in the light of the fact that it noted in the same news report of July 4, 2024 that when the newspaper contacted Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, media assistant to the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, it was clearly told that “nowhere in the documents (Agreement) were LGBTQ or same sex marriage mentioned even remotely”.  Given this rebuttal of the thrust of the news story, since the Daily Trust had apparently decided to go ahead with its reporting as borne out by its publication, and had evidence to the contrary, the newspaper should have said so in its report and cited the relevant portion or portions of the Samoa Agreement to back up this assertion.

Whilst the Daily Trust may be commended for its healthy interest in a story of national and global importance as provided for in Article 2.5 and 2.7 of the Code of Ethics, the same cannot be said for its performance with respect to the other provisions of the relevant portions of the Code, namely Article: 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.8.

Accordingly, we find that the article complained about was not factual, accurate, balanced, and fair, and therefore, violated Article 2.1 of the Revised Code of Ethics, 2022.

The Daily Trust report of July 4, 2024, also flouted Article 2.2. The plea that it was unsure of the version of the Samoa Agreement signed by the federal government cannot avail it, as the Daily Trust did not advance any argument that it sought for a copy of the signed Samoa Agreement from the Complainant, and it was denied, nor did its reporting indicate that it independently sourced it before its publication of July 4, 2024. The Daily Trust also did not present to the NMCC any version of the Samoa Agreement that supported the assertions contained in its July 4, 2024 story on the issue.  On the contrary, the copy of the Samoa Agreement submitted to the NMCC by the Daily Trust is the same version of the Agreement submitted by the Federal Government, which contained no reference whatsoever to the issue of LGBTQ. In this regard, the article was hasty, inaccurate, and misleading, contrary to the due diligence that Article 2.2 prescribes. Even after being informed of the inaccuracy and misleading nature of the report, the Daily Trust failed to promptly publish a correction.

We find that the Daily Trust violated Article 2.3 of the Revised Code of Ethics, 2022 as it did not discharge its duty to report as accurately as possible.

To the extent that the Daily Trust did not make any appreciable effort to establish the relevant facts in its reporting and seemed to substitute the opinions of its sources for the facts, we find that it breached Article 2.8 of the Revised Code of Ethics, 2022.

Overall, the reporting offered by the Daily Trust fell short of the standards expected in the journalism profession as contained in the 2022 Revised Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists. We also find that its reporting on such a subject with significant sensitivity in Nigeria was below its acclaimed professional standard. It should not have taken more than two months for the Daily Trust to determine that its action was blameworthy and take remedial steps in accordance with the requirements of the 2022 Revised Code of Conduct for Nigerian Journalists.

To the Complainant, we have come to the conclusion that this controversy could have been avoided if the government had been more forthcoming on the Samoa Agreement by proactively announcing to the Nigerian people that the Federal Government had signed the Agreement as well as explaining the essentials, implications and benefits of the Agreement to the country and to the Nigerian people shortly after it signed the document.

Transparency and accountability are crucial aspects of the democratic process, including for the purpose of earning and enjoying public trust. It would certainly have helped to inform the public about the Agreement much earlier with copies of it made publicly available for those who are interested in more details to access and read. Such an approach would have helped in avoiding the attendant conjectures and speculations, which become inevitable when the people feel that they have been denied the right to know.

In this digital age, the lesson here should be that proactivity in information dissemination across all offices of the government and all tiers of government on matters of public interest is a non-negotiable element of democratic governance. The government and all its institutions have an obligation to abolish the prevailing culture of secrecy in governance, as it gives the impression that government holds its citizens in contempt. Instead, the government should take deliberate steps to create a knowledge society and bring about the emergence of an informed and active citizenry.

10.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

In the light of the above, the NMCC directs that the Daily Trust newspaper takes appropriate remedial action and, in particular, do the following:

1. Accept without equivocation that its reporting on the issue in question was inaccurate and misleading as its treatment of the report showed a lapse in news judgement and fell short of the expected standards of the 2022 Revised Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists.
2. Publish an apology prominently in both the print and online editions of the Daily Trust.
3. Take the necessary internal editorial measures to prevent a future occurrence.
4. Publish the report of the NMCC in this matter within seven days of receiving it.
5. CONCLUSION

The NMCC commends the Complainant and the Respondent for submitting themselves to the co-regulatory mechanism offered by the National Media Complaints Commission. The Commission remains committed to providing the public with an independent forum for resolving complaints about the media, resolving all complaints speedily and fairly, with a view to maintaining high standards of journalism practice and journalistic ethics, and defending the freedom of the press and the rights of the people to know.

Eluem Emeka Izeze, FNGE

Chairman, NMCC

Feyi Smith

Interim Secretary, NMCC

 

STATEMENT DELIVERED ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU BY HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR KASHIM SHETTIMA, GCON VICE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA DURING THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE 79TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEW YORK

24TH – 30TH SEPTEMBER 2024

Mr. President,

As you assume the leadership of this august Assembly, our world is confronted by profound moral questions that will require more than the habitual remarks from this elevated podium to resolve. There are questions about the ultimate purpose of our Organisation, the United Nations itself, and how it can remain relevant and resilient.

2. It is with these sentiments that I convey to you the warm and fraternal greetings of my countrymen and women, and to congratulate you on your assumption of the Presidency of this Assembly. Let me assure you of the full cooperation of my delegation in discharging your onerous responsibilities during your tenure. In the same vein, I wish to extend my appreciation to your predecessor, His Excellency, Dennis Francis, for the many remarkable achievements recorded during his stewardship.
3. It gives me particular pleasure to commend His Excellency, António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, for his commitment to the cause of peace and development, and the democratisation of the United Nations to reflect the need to correct the historical injustice that has been done to Africa. I am also delighted to note the steadfast support given to the Secretary-General by our own sister and compatriot, Amina Mohammad, Deputy Secretary-General, while sharing the burden of responsibility in leading a complex organisation like the United Nations.

Mr. President,

4. The theme of this year’s General Assembly leaves us in no doubt that there is still work to be done to bridge the gap between aspirations and the realities confronting our world today. It also underscores the need to remind ourselves that the United Nations stands for inclusiveness – anchored on the tripod of peace, sustainable development and human rights.
5. Today, these pillars of our organisation are threatened. They risk being broken by the relentless pursuit of individual national priorities rather than the collective needs of the nations that are assembled here today. While commitment to multilateralism offers us the surest guarantee of global action to address the existential challenges we face, singularity and nationalism are undermining the aspirations towards the peaceful and collective resolution of such challenges.
6. From last year’s summit, and indeed from previous years, we have carried over the numerous challenges of terrorism, armed conflict, inequality, poverty, racial discrimination, human rights abuses, food crises, hunger, irregular migration, piracy, global pandemics, hyper-inflation, nuclear proliferation, grinding debt burden, climate change, and a host of other vexations. The continued manifestation of these challenges testifies to our failings rather than to any lofty achievements on our part. Billions of dollars are being committed to the prosecution of wars and the fanning of the embers of conflict.
7. Yet, we always recoil from bringing out the resources we need to build peace and to deliver life’s necessities to people. The question of governance is at the heart of our problems – and also the solution to them. We recognised this in Nigeria when on 12th June this year, we celebrated a quarter of a century of unbroken democratic rule. We are no less proud of this achievement than the fact that during the last two decades, a sustained process of democratisation has swept over Africa.
8. However, the return of unconstitutional changes of government and forceful military take overs in some countries of the Sahel underscore the fragility of democracy when it is not backed by economic development and sustained peace and security. It is this fragility, rather than the milestones that democratic governance has achieved in Africa, that should matter most in our deliberations at this and other High-Level Segments of the 79th Session of the General Assembly. While we abhor all forceful changes of government, we can also recognise the impatience in cities and villages at the sometimes slow and grinding turn of the wheel of democracy.
9. Our people need employment. They need decent livelihoods. They desire good and affordable education and healthcare for their children and families. They need to live in healthy, safe and secure environments. They need hope and they need opportunity. They desire to live in peace and tranquillity, to pursue whatever gives them happiness and contentment. When governments fail to deliver, the people are bound to question the utility of democracy and other ideals, like rule of law.
10. The global debt burden undermines the capacity of countries and governments to meet the needs of their citizens. Creeping trade barriers and protectionist policies are destroying the hopes for prosperity of peoples and nations. Unbridled competition rather than cooperation is discouraging incentives and driving away investments.
11. Above all, general insecurity is driving people into unprecedented hardship and misery that in turn, affect the people’s confidence in democracy. It is the duty of the international community to bring back confidence in democratic rule and constitutional order, by paying more attention to the needs and aspirations of the people, rather than paying lip service to human rights, sustainable development and peace. We need the substance of democracy, not just the form.

Mr President,

12. We cannot build durable societies with the threat of terrorism, banditry and insurgency growing in our countries and regions. Indeed, violent extremism remains an existential threat to both national and international peace, security and development. We are making concerted efforts to contain and rollback this threat. The High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting hosted by Nigeria in April 2024 and its outcome – “The Abuja Declaration” – promises to provide solutions to the challenges presented by terrorists and insurgents.

Mr. President,

13. Climate change is a driver of insecurity, which also poses a veritable challenge to sustainable development. A few weeks ago, large areas of my country were inundated by seasonal flood waters, including one of our largest cities, Maiduguri, in the North-East. Other parts of Nigeria also experienced similar tragedies, occasioning the loss of lives and property.
14. We need not remind ourselves to remain faithful to the implementation of the commitments that we all gave voluntarily at the various COP Meetings. Failure to do so is merely to postpone the inevitable. No country is immune from the effects of climate change.
15. It is better that we cooperate and collaborate to meet this ever-increasing challenge rather than remaining in our shells, waiting for the inevitable to happen. A common challenge requires a common solution. Nigeria stands ready to meet her obligations in terms of mitigation and adaptation measures nationally and regionally, with the active participation of other countries and international partners.

Mr. President,

16. Conflict prevention is the main reason why the UN exists. But the task of prevention becomes all the more difficult when conflict becomes normalised, when even the condemnation of violence and civilian casualties, and calls for a ceasefire, are somehow regarded as controversial.
17. As we emphasised at the Abuja High-Level Ministerial meeting, we must renew our focus on conflict prevention. Indeed, addressing the root causes of conflicts is often the first step towards providing long-term solutions. Clearly, some of the root causes of conflicts are social in nature, including poverty, hunger, ignorance, inequality and exclusion, as well as other forms of injustice. In Sudan, other parts of our continent and further afield, foreign actors are exacerbating those tensions to prolong conflict and deepen the suffering of innocent people.
18. Today, we are all witnesses to the heart-wrenching situation in Gaza and other Palestinian Territories. We cannot discuss war and peace, conflicts and reconciliation or humanitarian imperatives today without reflecting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has been raging since 7th October last year.
19. Of course, the conflict predates this period and has been simmering for a better part of half a century. What this tells us is that the international community has failed to live up to the spirit and aspirations of the United Nations to rid the world of inequality, violence and domination of one people by another. Justice is antithetical to revenge.
20. Freedom is an inalienable right and a natural entitlement that cannot be denied to any people. The Palestinian people deserve their independence. They deserve to have a home of their own on territories already recognised by this very Assembly and by international law, which is being routinely ignored. Nigeria continues to urge efforts to bring back on track the ‘two state solution’ that offers the prospect for a new beginning for the region.
21. Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to supporting United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. We recognise the need for Africa to build strong and professional armies to meet the multiple challenges we face. Consequently, we reiterate the call for international support to operationalise the African Standby Force, in addition to the provision of requisite support and resources to ensure the upgrade, take-off and effectiveness of a Centre of Excellence on issues of counter-terrorism in Africa.

Mr. President,

22. Reform of the Security Council is critical if the UN is to strengthen its relevance and credibility in our rapidly changing world. Some permanent members of United Nations Security Council have offered encouraging if tentative indications of support on the issue of reform of the Council. We welcome the change in tone and urge an acceleration in momentum to the process.
23. The Security Council should be expanded, in the permanent and non-permanent member categories, to reflect the diversity and plurality of the world. We fully support the efforts of Secretary-General Guterres in this regard.
24. Africa must be accorded the respect that it deserves in the Security Council. Our Continent deserves a place in the permanent members category of the Security Council, with the same rights and responsibilities as other Permanent Members.

Mr. President,

25. Your assumption of stewardship of the General Assembly presupposes that you will be seized with the progress of the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. We note that most developing countries are significantly behind in the achievement of these Goals, largely due to a lack of resources available to finance their implementation and the burden of unsustainable external debt.
26. It is our expectation that the adoption of the “Pact for the Future” will change the narrative, reposition economies and translate into concrete measures that provide solutions to the challenges faced by developing and least developed countries. This is particularly significant in our region and the Sahel, where human development indices are low and depressing.
27. It is for this and other reasons that we reiterate the call by countries, especially of the global South, for reform of the international financial architecture and promotion of a rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable and transparent multilateral trading system.
28. We are aware of the debilitating impacts of corruption on global prosperity and national progress. Proceeds of corruption and illicit financial flows constitute a huge chunk of resources needed for sustainable development. The recovery and return of such funds to States of origin is a fundamental principle of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
29. Therefore, the international community must promote practical measures to strengthen international cooperation to recover and return stolen assets and to eradicate safe havens that facilitate illicit flows of funds from developing countries to the developed economies.
30. There is also the urgent need to promote fair and inclusive tax regimes in the world. Nigeria helped introduce the resolution on “Promotion of inclusive and effective international tax cooperation at the UN”. We acknowledge the progress made in the adoption of the terms of reference of the UN Framework Convention on Tax Cooperation. We should deepen this initiative and work towards a UN Framework Convention on Tax Cooperation.
31. Similarly, we must ensure that any reform of the international financial system includes comprehensive debt relief measures, to enable sustainable financing for development. Countries of the global South cannot make meaningful economic progress without special concessions and a review of their current debt burden.
32. My government pays due regard to the imperatives of creating a conducive national environment for investment and the ease of doing business. Last year, I signed four Executive Orders to curb double taxation. I also established the Presidential Taskforce on Review of Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform. These measures are geared towards not only boosting investor confidence in Nigeria, but also to ensure investors make reasonable profit from their investments.

Mr. President,

33. While the world is transitioning into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Africa remains energy deficient. The push for the accelerated implementation of SDG 7: “Affordable and Clean Energy”, therefore, must take into account Africa’s precarious situation. Nigeria believes that natural gas remains central to the search for solutions to the energy challenges that Africa and the international community face. Access to affordable, reliable, cleaner sources of energy is more than an environmental or developmental issue. It is a key factor in social peace and international security.

Mr. President,

34. Nigeria remains unwavering in its commitment to SDG 13: Climate Action, including the net zero ambition and transition from fossil fuel energy to clean energy. As a demonstration of this commitment, I established the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economy Solutions and appointed a Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action.
35. We will redouble our efforts to address the challenges posed by climate change, including the urgent need to transition from fossil fuel energy. Yet such commitments must be juxtaposed with the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and the relevant provisions of the Paris Climate Agreement back in 2015. The Paris Agreement provided for developed countries to take the lead in the quest to achieve net zero and to offer support, including finance, to developing countries for the actualisation of the climate change goal.
36. Worthy of note is the ‘loss and damage funding for vulnerable countries’ secured at COP 27 in Egypt and expanded in COP 28 in the United Arab Emirates. It is our expectation that this year’s 79th Session of the UN General Assembly and the upcoming COP 29 in Azerbaijan this November, will go a step further by providing developing countries, especially African countries, with access to the loss and damage funds, including the 100 billion dollars pledged by developed countries to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.

Mr. President,

37. In this age of digital innovation, we must address the emerging divide between the Global South and the Global North, which, with the evolution of artificial intelligence, risks becoming wider still. The UN should work towards eliminating barriers to digital economy in Africa, such as high costs of Internet services and intellectual property rights.
38. Moreso, there is a need to work towards common global standards to regulate crypto-currency trading platforms. This is the most effective way to provide confidence in these new markets and limit the potential for instability. Our own experience in Nigeria, as in other countries, shows that new technologies, when not properly regulated, can facilitate organised crime, violent extremism and human trafficking. In our own case, the trading of crypto-currency helped fuel speculation and undermined macro-economic reforms.
39. Separately, we have also witnessed, in rich and poor countries alike, the corrosive impact of unfiltered hate speech and fake news across social media. There is much more that we could and should do, together, to strengthen those guard rails that will help release the most progressive elements of the new technologies shaping our world – and curb those more destructive tendencies.

Mr. President,

40. We are particularly mindful of the imperatives of achieving the advancement of youth and women as a factor in national development, peace and security. Nigeria has developed its own National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, as well as a National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security, to ensure the participation of both women and youth in the peace and security sector.
41. The “Summit of the Future” cannot be deemed successful without setting clear, ambitious and achievable developmental goals to address the various challenges facing our youth. In line with this aspiration, my government will continue to invest in Nigerian youth through initiatives like the revitalisation of the National Youth Investment Fund for 2024, focused on youth empowerment and entrepreneurship.

Mr. President,

42. As much as the global family still grapples with the crippling consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the greatest lesson that we have learnt is never again to take any health situation with levity. In line with SDG 3, we must continue to work together to ensure the good health and well-being of all. There is no disease that should be relegated to the background due to some perceived classification of their seriousness or importance.

Mr. President,

43. Migration is a complex and polarising issue that impacts on rich and poor countries alike. Nigeria is a country of origin, transit and destination. We are a major stakeholder in the global migration dynamic, and understand the challenges and benefits it brings. Accordingly, I wish to reiterate our support for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The GCM, which all of us should continue to support, represents our collective efforts at providing major safeguards for the treatment of migrants.

Mr. President,

44. I will conclude by reaffirming Nigeria’s steadfast commitment to the deepening of multilateralism, just as we did sixty-five years ago on this podium when we joined the United Nations as the 99th Member-State. We remain committed to that “desire to remain friendly with all nations and participate actively in the works of the United Nations”, as expressed by our founding Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
45. It is my hope that our deliberations this year will result in solutions that would address our collective challenges and accelerate the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the advancement of peace and human dignity for the sake of present and future generations.

I thank you.