The National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) has ruled against Daily Trust newspaper following a complaint filed by the Nigerian government regarding the publication’s inaccurate coverage of the Samoa Agreement. After a thorough investigation, the Commission directed Daily Trust to issue a public apology for its misleading reportage.
In its July 4, 2024 article, Daily Trust incorrectly stated that the Samoa Agreement contained clauses compelling developing nations to support the LGBTQ community. This claim was refuted by government officials, including Bolaji Adebiyi, media assistant to the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, who clarified that no such references were present in the agreement. Despite this, the newspaper proceeded with the story without providing evidence to back its claims.
The NMCC’s investigation found that the Daily Trust report violated several articles of the 2022 Revised Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists, including failing to report accurately and diligently. The Commission noted that Daily Trust did not make sufficient efforts to verify the content of the agreement, nor did it correct the inaccuracies promptly after being informed.
As a result, the NMCC has directed Daily Trust to publish a formal apology in both its print and online editions, implement internal editorial measures to prevent future lapses, and publish the full NMCC report within seven days.
The Commission also called on the government to prioritize transparency by making key agreements publicly available to avoid misinformation and speculation. In its closing remarks, the NMCC emphasized the importance of proactive information dissemination in upholding democratic governance and maintaining public trust.
The NMCC commended both the government and Daily Trust for engaging in the co-regulatory mechanism provided by the Commission to resolve the issue fairly.