Guild of Editors Suspends Steve Osuji For Publishing Confidential SSS Speech
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has announced the suspension of one of its members, Steve Osuji, for breaching the “off the record” clause outlined in Nigeria’s journalism Code of Ethics.
According to a statement jointly signed by Guild President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh, the keynote speech delivered by Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), at the Guild’s 25th Biennial National Convention in Enugu, was clearly marked as confidential and not intended for public release.
Despite this understanding being formally communicated, the Guild revealed that Mr. Osuji, a senior journalist and member, went on to publish content derived from the presentation across his social media platforms, thereby violating the organization’s ethical guidelines on confidentiality
The statement read, “At the 25th Biennial National Convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) held in Enugu, a keynote address was delivered by the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, under the explicit agreement that his presentation was off-record and not for publication.
“Despite this agreement, a senior journalist and member of the Guild, Mr. Steve Osuji, published an article based on the presentation on his social media platforms, breaching our Code of Ethics on confidentiality.
“The NGE takes this professional misconduct seriously, and has announced the suspension of Mr. Osuji from our professional body, effective immediately.
“Mr Osuji’s action doesn’t represent who we are – as members of a respected professional body in the media landscape.
“Indeed, our investigation confirmed that Mr. Osuji’s actions compromised the integrity of our profession.
”Off record” conversations are a crucial aspect of journalistic practice, allowing sources to share sensitive information while maintaining confidentiality. A breach of such agreement undermines trust and can have serious consequences
“We apologize to the Director-General of the SSS and the institution he represents for the embarrassment caused by Mr. Osuji’s actions.
“We reaffirm our commitment to upholding the highest standards of journalism and ensuring that our members adhere to our code of ethics. Mr. Osuji will have the opportunity to appeal this decision.
“The NGE remains dedicated to promoting professional conduct and maintaining public trust in the media.”
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