By our reporter
A Media Executive and Pioneer of Civic Intelligence, Lady Ejiro Umukoro, on Saturday said the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria promotes hatred of women, linking it to religious bias.
Umukoro said this at an Enipro Inc virtual summit supported by Business Day and Sparklight Newspaper themed ‘Understanding Nigeria Constitution and Effective Governance in a Data Driven World’.
Also joining her at the summit as panelists were veteran journalist and Executive Director, Media Career Development Network, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin and Mr. Tola Onayemi, International Technology, Trade and Investment Lawyer.
Umukoro, basing her claim on a research, blamed ignorance of the citizens about what the constitution stipulates for the reason why many are harassed by law enforcement officers or detained for more than 24 hours.
Onayemi however argued that citizens with the knowledge of the constitution still face intimidations while narrating how he had to join about other 700 lawyers across 25 states of Nigeria to provide legal aids to #EndSARS protesters unlawfully detained.
Otufodunrin called for possessing the knowledge of the constitution and understanding it while suggesting avenues it could be accessed.
“Understanding the constitution is key. Read for your education. You can find it online through Google. There are even applications for it,” he said.
According to Umukoro, Nigeria’s constitution is not democratic but autocratic while requesting for who monitors the loopholes in the constitution.
Onayemi queried the constitutionality of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) fines slammed on radio and television stations, adding that Nigeria’s constitution limits press freedom.
He went further to add that the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act is more difficult to use, stating that people now rely on citizen journalism, whistleblowers and social media for truth and accountability which already has a weak check and balance system.
“The constitution is inherently oppressive; very problematic. For example, when you win a case against the government that is supposed to award you compensation, the constitution puts it that you need to go to the executive, that is the Attorney General of the Federation for approval.
“Nigeria’s constitution must be reviewed and modernised to represent what Nigeria should be. It affects effective governance,” Onayemi said.
He also called for use of data to drive development in Nigeria while proposing that the government funds education of students directly instead of providing subsidy to schools which might be misappropriated along the line.
He said: “We need a lot of more use of data. Use data to design a system that actually works.”
On citizens minimising data supplied to the government, Otufodunrin said it is risky to the extent that citizens are not sure of data security, citing examples of how government owned websites were recently hacked.
He also called for a data-driven society, advising that policies should be informed by data.
The veteran journalist said: “We need a data-driven society. Our policies should be informed by data to enable us deploy resources to the right things.
“The government must build their backbone with data. They have to be on top of technology. Government officials with their reactions lately show they are not on top of technology. They need to understand data.”
In the same vein, Umukoro noted that “we are in a digital age where there is so much data we can gather.”
She called for transparency in governance, declaring that “transparency enables democracy.
“FOI Act is toothless. An Act that does not allow you access to information. Government agencies don’t understand public information.
“They don’t want democracy to thrive. Hoarding information shows they are hiding something. We have the wrong people making policies. We have people who don’t fit in some ministries heading them.
“Data can save lives, solve problem and even assist the youths make more informed decisions.”
“We want the government to deliver the Nigeria we want. Our democracy is too limited to voting. We really need to make democracy become what it should be. In Nigeria, one man’s democracy is another man’s autocracy.
“People don’t understand the marriage between data and governance. On my programme on Mega 89.1 FM I emphasise the need for grassroots advocacy. I believe in the philosophy of knowledge is power when it is put to good use.”
Onayemi stated that the federal finance is not in a great place, partly blaming the COVID-19 pandemic while expressing hope that the technology and banking and financial services will thrive.
Otufodunrin called for training and media literacy for all Nigerians to stem the tide of fake news.
He also lamented that government agencies don’t avail journalist with information that they need for investigative journalism unlike how they grant their foreign counterparts access.
The summit Convener and Programme Director of Enipro Inc, Jesse Ogabu submitted that data is at the centre of everything “that we do” while advising the public to pay attention to data and the application.
He also called on Nigerians to take keen interest in data and governance as whether they are in Nigeria or not, as long they are Nigerians and have family, friends and associates in the country whatever affects the country affects them.
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