THE MEDIA AND DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE IN NIGERIA: A DISCOURSE ON THE FOURTH REPUBLIC

Abstract

One of the central and invaluable roles of the media is that of promoting democracy. This is because democracy can only thrive and develop when information management and dissemination is also democratized and made free from undue control by government. The Nigerian media has over the years been reacting optimally to the unfolding political, economic and social issues. In Nigerian democratic struggle, journalist were in many times regarded as enemies of government. This is why they are often muzzled, terrorized and incarcerated. Using documentary sources of data, this paper x-rays the relevance of the media in Nigeria’s democratic practice and development. The paper is situated within the Libertarian, Communist and Social Responsibility Theories. The choice of these theories is deliberate as one theory cannot independently addressed the issues under examination hence the need to employ more than one theory. The paper argues that the major impediments militating against the efforts of the media to play an effective role in Nigeria’s democratic practice are problems associated with the full application and enforcement of the freedom of the press, non-compliance to Freedom of Information (FoI) Act, the welfare and wellbeing of the journalists, Proprietorial influences as well as assumption of some politicians and political office holders the media is their enemy as it exposes and spreads their activities while in government. This article recommends that, governments at all level should develop a culture of restrain towards the press, as this will help in promoting and safe guarding freedom of expression and the press. And where the press is free from government interference there will be accountability and responsiveness in governance as the media will always checkmate the activities of government. This will help to deepen and consolidate democratic practice and development in Nigeria.