In my view, regulation in this important sector should not and must not be to massage the ego of government officials in power or for mere elite protection or exigencies of political office or to please the political class.
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – Hon Victor Afam Ogene, a former Deputy Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the House of Representatives, has said that the increasing access to the internet must be handled with utmost responsibility.
He, however, added that a framework for the regulation of social media activities must be done with the input of the government and the people, and not to massage the ego of government officials in power or for mere elite protection.
Hon Ogene made these assertions in a Keynote Address entitled ‘Traditional Media and The Threats of Social Media: Implication on National Development’, which he delivered at the 2022 press week of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council on Friday, October 28, 2022, in Awka, Anambra State.
He attributed the controversy over the call for the regulation of social media by government to the ever-widening mistrust between the citizenry and their representatives in government as a result of lack of belief in the integrity and transparency of them.
The former Legislator, who represented Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Reps, emphasised that because of its speed and reach, “the internet and its enabled new media are the future of the world,” adding that the society can’t run away from this reality, but can only make “efforts to make the practice and content more wholesome and less troubling, in keeping with the core values humanity – decency, propriety, sensitivity, respect for ethnic, cultural, religious and other layers of diversity.”
He, however, regretted that despite its immediacy and wide reach, the social media is increasingly being misused by many out of mischief or pure criminality, to perpetuate fraud, theft, terrorism, election meddling, dissemination of fake news, hate speech, bullying and other vices.
Ogene, who is also the 2023 House of Reps candidate of the Labour Party in Ogbaru, Anambra, raised the question, “Would a responsible and transparent regulatory framework, devoid of vindictiveness, high handedness, elite self-protection, and tendencies to witch-hunt, gag or politically motivated be possible?
“The people have to be carried along in a more intentional and purposeful approach. The understanding and input of the people in formulating any policy are very important for its implementation and overall success.”
He referenced the contentious attempts by both the legislature and executive arms of government to effect the regulation and argued: “That mistrust and apparent disgust among the populace, was what was at play and stymied the call for regulation of the social media in Nigeria, turning it into a festering controversy that further pitched the people against the government.”
Speaking further on suggestions on the way forward, Ogene said: “The first step to take, in my opinion, is self accountability, because even the best of laws would be of no effect without the willingness of the people to adhere to them. People should be self accountable about their individual actions, especially as it relates to the use of social media. Be self aware and cautious about the type of content you create or share with the public. Consider the effect such contents would have on other people.
“Will it be injurious to their dignity as humans, or offend the sensibility of people or even cause disaffection among the people or unfairly hurt someone’s business or political interest?
“But that is where relevant government information and ethical orientation agencies would come in with purpose driven sensitisation for people to be better informed about these issues. I say this because a number of the people involved in this toxic social media practice may be doing so out of ignorance about social ethics and values that shape the society.
“Some too, may be doing so as a result of elite manipulation for political purposes. So, a body such as the National Orientation Agency (NOA) ought to have a robust programme that would be continuous and strategic, both in design and implementation, in order to bring this sensitization to the grassroots, since the issues affect every facet of the society – security, human rights, economy, national integration, peaceful coexistence of all, among others.
“The recent attempts by government to regulate the use of the social media and the resistance by the people as stated above, underscore the perception out there that there are more to it than government is willing to project. Overtime, government, through its actions, rather than being pragmatic, appears to be more reactionary and overly self- preservative, as referenced by the public utterances of the Ministers of Information and Justice and even NITDA on this matter.
“So, in my view, regulation in this important sector should not and must not be to massage the ego of government officials in power or for mere elite protection or exigencies of political office or to please the political class. It should and must be for the interest of the people and protection of our core values as a nation.
“Government cannot do it successfully without the buy-in and input of the people. The people should be the drivers of such a process for it to receive the required acceptance. But it must be preceded by years of honest, strategic and people oriented engagements and sensitization. And the regulation must be designed in a way that is not targeted at a few, but be fair and just to all in the society – irrespective of social, economic or political background.”