The National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) has ruled against Daily Trust newspaper for its inaccurate reporting on the Samoa Agreement.
The ruling, issued on September 24, 2024, came after the Nigerian government lodged a formal complaint regarding the newspaper’s coverage.
The NMCC found that Daily Trust published misleading information, particularly claims suggesting the agreement compelled Nigeria to support LGBTQ rights.
In its detailed report, the NMCC stated that the Daily Trust’s article, published on July 4, 2024, misrepresented the contents of the Samoa Agreement.
The Commission noted, “It was inaccurate and wrong for Daily Trust to state that the agreement contained clauses compelling underdeveloped nations to support LGBTQ agitations.”
This statement was confirmed by Bolaji Adebiyi, a media assistant to the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, who clarified that “nowhere in the documents were LGBTQ or same-sex marriage mentioned.”
Despite this clear rebuttal, the Daily Trust continued to publish its initial claims.
The NMCC emphasized that the newspaper should have corrected its report based on the evidence available to them.
“The article was not factual, accurate, balanced, or fair,” the NMCC concluded, stating that it violated the Revised Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists.
Details of the Investigation
The investigation revealed that the Daily Trust failed to meet journalistic standards.
The NMCC pointed out that the newspaper did not adequately verify the information before publishing.
“The Daily Trust did not present any version of the Samoa Agreement that supported its claims,” the report stated.
Instead, the version of the agreement submitted by both the government and Daily Trust contained no mention of LGBTQ issues.
The NMCC criticized the newspaper for being hasty and misleading, stressing that this was contrary to the ethical obligations outlined in Article 2.2 of the Code.
The ruling indicated that the Daily Trust’s reporting lacked due diligence.
Even after being informed of the inaccuracies, the newspaper did not promptly issue a correction.
This failure to correct the report constituted another breach of the ethics code, according to the NMCC.
Government’s Role in Transparency
While ruling against Daily Trust, the NMCC also criticized the Nigerian government for its handling of the Samoa Agreement.
The commission noted that had the government been more transparent about the agreement, speculation and confusion could have been avoided.
“Greater openness, transparency, and accountability could have mitigated the controversy surrounding the Samoa Agreement,” the report suggested.
The NMCC highlighted that effective communication is crucial for maintaining public trust.
“In this digital age, proactive information dissemination is essential for democratic governance,” the commission asserted.
The NMCC advised the government to abolish the culture of secrecy, which it claims fosters public distrust.
“Government should take deliberate steps to create an informed and active citizenry,” the report stated.
Recommendations for Daily Trust
The NMCC outlined several recommendations for Daily Trust to address the issues raised in the investigation.
First, the newspaper must publicly acknowledge that its reporting was inaccurate and misleading.
Second, Daily Trust is required to publish a prominent apology in both its print and online editions.
The NMCC also recommended that the newspaper implement internal editorial measures to prevent similar issues in the future.
Finally, Daily Trust is instructed to publish the NMCC’s report within seven days of receipt.
In response to the ruling, the NMCC commended both the government and Daily Trust for engaging with the complaint process.
The commission reiterated its commitment to providing an independent forum for resolving media complaints.
