Wednesday, 7 December 2022
CBN New Currency Policy Effective January 9, 2023
CBN New Currency Policy Effective January 9, 2023 Daily ATM withdrawal: #20,000 Daily POS Withdrawal: #20,000 Above #20,000: Must be done electronically Weekly Withdrawal Limit: #100,000 Highest Denomination to be dispensed by ATM: #200 notes. Maximum withdrawal at the Counter weekly: (Individual) #100,000 Maximum withdrawal at the Counter weekly (Corporate Organization) #500,000 Processing Fees for withdrawal above limit (a) Individual: 5% Processing Fee (b) Corporate Organization: 10% Processing Fee 3rd Party Cheque above #50,000 not eligible for payment above the counter Haruna B. Mustafa Director Banking Supervision Central Bank of Nigeria.
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
TECHNICAL SERVICE IN LIBRARIANSHIP
Introduction
Without
any doubt, all the scholars in library and information science profession have agreed
and concluded that technical service department of any library can be regarded
as independent and dependent center which other department make their survival
i.e The technical department is usually called behind the scene due to its
important to all other departments, functions it perform in the library and the
technicality it involves.
Therefore,
Technical service department in academic library especially the University of
Ilorin, Library could be used to demonstrate how TSD is central to day to day
operation of a library in relation to the work or topic of investigation. According to Issa, (2003), He postulated that
the Library is a social instrument created to form a link in a communication
system that is essentials to any society or culture. So, it can be deduced from
this definition that technical service department creates a link and a
communication system that is very essential and central to the other departments
in the library, for it due functions to the university community.
Furthermore,
the technical service department of university of Ilorin library has four (4)
units which make all other departments rally round it for their operations. These units include cataloguing and
classification, Acquisition, serials, Binding units. All these units make a library especially
university of Ilorin, library due to the fact that the library cannot
effectively, efficiently and satisfactorily provide the needs of the community
it serve without being relying and take it to cognizance the importance of
these units.
Haven described the library
has been described as a subordinate to education enhancement and development
institution that is charged with the responsibility of collecting, preserving
and disseminating information to their users without an iota of doubt, the
technical Service Department of any Library can be said to be central to the
day to day operation of the library is a department upon which we can say other
departments depend. The Technical Service Department generally sees to the
processing and maintenance of a library’s physical collection which include the
identification, selection, ordering, acquisition, organization and preparation.
All these functions are explained thus:
Identification: This is
the locating potentially worldwide items to be added to the existing collection
of a library.
Selection:
Deciding which of the identified items to be added to the existing collection
of a library.
Order: Ordering
is the function of the technical service which is the request for the supply of
the selected Library materials by recognized publishers.
Organization:
Indexing and Cataloguing the items acquired in a manner that will assist the
end users to locate the materials in the recollection
Preparation:
Preparation has to do with the spine labeling of the information materials to
allow for easy retrieval.
Technical Service may Maintenance of online
catalogue and Creation and maintenance of MARC Record in the catalogue,
labeling, covering, securing processing and or destruction of material.
LITERATURE
REVIEW
Cataloguing
and Classification Unit
Cataloguing
and classification unit is a unit in technical department that see to the
cataloguing and classification of any information materials the library possess
this unit is usually headed by professionals at least with master degree in
library and information science and having many subordinates answerable to
him/her in an ideal situation. Therefore
cataloguing is a central operation in the day to day activity in university of Ilorin library base on the
fact that catalogue in library is a list of books and other reading Information
materials in the holding of a library or
a group of libraries. This list contains
entries of books, arranged according to some definite plan; it also a list
which records, describes and indexes the resources of a collection, a library
or group of library or group of libraries in a locality or country. However Olanipekun and Ifabiyi (2003) in
their article title the organization of library they opined that Technical unit
“is the heart of the library such that without the card catalogue, the book or
information materials in the library collection will not accessible to users’
i.e catalogue help the users to identify information materials which the
library has. Moreover, classification could be seen as a process of sorting library
materials in to groups according likeness or unlikeness. In other words it entails all the activities
involved in arranging library materials by dividing them into different groups
or class according to their similarities.
Wynar (1967) opined that classification is arrangement of library
materials according to some system. It’s
observed that books in library can be categories or classifies in many ways,
however, the most logical and widely used method of classifying books and other
library materials is by their subjects.
Subjects’ classification leads that all books on the same subject will
be placed together in one section of the library and books on related subject
will be on the same shelves by. Those
who use the library will find this type of arrangement the most convenient and
useful because they do not have to look for several places for their needed
materials.
More
importantly, Charles Ammi Cutter in 1876
described how classification and library catalogue regarded as central of day
today operation of university of Ilorin, library: He postulated that.
1. To
enable a person to find a book of which
(a) The
author
(b) The
title, or is known
(c) The
subject
2. To
show what library has
(a) By
a given author
(b) On
a given subject
(c) In
a given kind of literature or form of materials However, it serves as a finding
list for groups of documents.
3. To
assist in the choice of a book
(a) As
to its edition (bibliographically)
(b) As
to its character (library or topical)
This
simply explains the role of library catalogue in the choice of document by
providing enough information about its distinctive features.
In
addition, Salman A.A (2006) described (7) seven functions on how library
catalogue as a unit under technical service department is central to the day
today operation of university of Ilorin library.
i. To
record each work in a library by author, translator, editor, illustrator, and
commentator or by any other person, body or name under which a reader might
look and which must be desirable for a particular library.
ii. To
employ cross reference by which a reader may be guided from one entry in the
catalogue to another.
iii. To
provide a description of each book by giving title, imprint, and collation,
also notes when necessary.
iv. To
list the call numbers by which materials could be located or obtained
v. To
arranged subject entries that the like topics will fall together and related
topics will be correlated.
vi. To
arrange author entries in such a way that all the works of one writer will be
found together under the same name, a procedure that makes it possible for
readers to find a specific work or to survey the literary output of an author
as represented in the library.
vii. To
record each work in the library, and even parts of a work under the subject of
which it treats.
Thus,
It’s clear and obvious that cataloguing and classification unit under technical
department of university of Ilorin library is central to day today operation of
other departments because, it spelt out that no meaningful operations
and activities can be happened in the library without being taking into
consideration or without being processed in the technical department of the
library.
This
is so, because, the reference unit, circulation unit and the rest cannot
perform or make any impact in the library without the cataloguing and
classification unit operation.
Also,
it is also deduced that no users of university of Ilorin, library can locate,
access and make use of any materials in any departments without the operation
and work of classification and cataloguing unit under technical department of
the library.
ACQUISITION
Acquisition
is another unit under technical department of university of Ilorin, library. This unit is under close door i.e the
officials or Librarians here work behind scene and dictate the pace of the
library operations and functions.
Acquisition librarian most be professional, highly experienced with at
least masters degree in library and information sciences who arm to teeth in
the profession.
More
importantly, the acquisition unit dictate the wheel of library because, the
unit responsible for the acquiring of any information materials (resources) be
it books or non-books material and printed or non-printed materials.
According
to Clarks, (1999) He said “Acquisition generally applies to the function of
obtaining the library materials which make up a library collection. Moreover,
Mark Stone (2006) defined Acquisition as a process of securing materials for
the library’s collection, this may be through purchase, gifts, exchange
endowment and legal deposit the process of acquisition has to do with obtaining
these materials subsequent to their selection.
More
importantly, there are 6 methods according to Aliyu M.B, (2003) in her article
called collection development in libraries, which include:
·
Direct purchase
·
Exchange
·
Gift/ donations
·
Legal deposit
·
Subscription
All
the aforementioned methods of acquiring materials to the library is very
technical indeed because, in the market there are publication explosion where by the acquisition librarian need to
very aware in procuring the needed information materials into the library. So, the technicality in gift acceptance of
method of acquiring materials to the library, the acquisition librarian should
make careful selection when taking gifts so as to eliminate dead woods, i.e
materials not relevant to the needs of the library.
In
addition, acquisition activities which must handle and carefully done in order
to bring about the needed information materials to the door step of users. This activities include ordering for
materials, checking for ordering slip, coalition of selected materials for purchase, which at are
all pre-acquisition process is the post acquisition process include checking
for fault materials through scanning of the materials checking for the volume,
the number of copies order for and the amount of the materials. It’s important that, these materials must be
process so as make it available for use i.e stamping given of accession number,
preparing it for classification and cataloguing e.t.c.
In
conclusion, Issa, (2012) in his lesson not presented for students of library
and information science boo level at university of Ilorin, he said technicality
begins in acquisition” i.e the technical service department in the university
of Ilorin, library.
SERIAL
UNIT
This is another unit in
technical departmental that central to the operation of the day to day
activities of the university of Ilorin library.
In acquiring serials materials to the library, subscription is major way
through which serials materials could be gotten and this serials resources like
dailies, research paper, memories, conference preceding journals, newsletter,
all the serials are very sensitive to the library in such a way that, serials
librarian need to be knowledge on and how to make this materials available for
any patrons that need it especially the academics professional who attaches
important to the serials resource for research work.
Therefore, serials and
periodicals are always use interchangeably to refer to materials in print (monographs)
or non-print (microforms) formats that are produced serially or periodically: According
to Adedeji (1984) serial is used inter-changeably in every day conversation to
means magazines, journals, or any publication of that nature. Serials in essence include journals,
magazines, newspapers, bulletins news-letters, memoirs, proceedings of learn
societies and professional bodies. The
serials published daily weakly monthly, quarterly, annually usually with volume
number, issue number including month and year of publication.
In addition, serials unit of university
of Ilorin, library performs tedious work known as technicality which makes it central
in the operation of the day to day of activities of the library.
In conclusion, the following are
reasons while serials unit is a central operation under technical department
- It
costs lesser than books.
- They
provide the text in a discipline
- They
have archival value
It
can be deduced from the above that the serials unit is an important unit under
technical department because, librarian in serial unit deal with professional
and specialized various discipline who are to using the serials materials for
their professional activities.
BINDING
UNIT
This
is a unit under technical department of university of Ilorin, library where the
wear and tear material are bend i.e the unit design for conservation and
preservation of newly acquire resources and the resources that need to be
conserve for further years. Thought the
unit needs professional hands that can make materials durable for use and
repackaging already mutilated one.
Therefore, Issa (2012) in a
Technical Service lecture to 300 level students of the University of Ilorin
opined that weeding is part of technical department of any library with view
that, weeding is tedious work that need expert, highly skill profession and
experience librarian who have knowledge of what library entails and know why library
must always remain a living organism rather than dead soul. So, weeding is highly technical because,
librarian must put in place and mind all the necessary reason for weeding and
this can be done by experience librarian therefore, with all and done if can
justify that technical department is truly
a central operation of the day to day of the activities of the
University of Ilorin library.
In summary the Technical
Service Department is therefore central to the day today activities of any
library because:
1. It strengthens other
departments in the library to perform expected functions of information
delivery services. This is because it’s from the technical department that
decision of what materials to acquired, how materials would be acquired and why
materials should be acquired are taken.
2. Even though both the
Technical departments and other departments in the library work towards
achieving the same goal of providing information service to the community it
serves, the technical department serves as the bedrock of the information to be
provided to users as these information materials require processing before they
are forwarded to other departments for proper provision for their clients.
3. For the fact that
whatever requires technicality demands skillful minded people, the technical
service department is therefore central to the day to day activities of every
library as it brings together pull of professional skilled librarians to
achieve its aim of making these required information materials ready for
dissemination and use.
4. The Technical
department as a result of its indispensable functions in the library system, it
therefore dictates the pace of performance of the other departments function.
What we mean in this sense is that it’s this department that takes charges of
selection, order, acquisition, shelving, weeding, record keeping and filing of
catalogue cards. Therefore, all these processes have to be taken before other
departments can take up their own functions. With this the technical service
dictates the space at which other departments function.
·
The technical department contributes to the
profiles of other library departments. This is because whatever achievement
other departments are able to make would be as a result of the perfect preparation
of technical department. Thus the technical department becomes the
·
It facilitates the growing nature of an
organism as opined by Raganatan in the law of the library that “the Library is
a growing organism”.
In conclusion, the technical department of the
library is therefore central to the day to day activities of any library
because for any library to function well in any community it has to take proper
care of its Technical Department in ensuring that the required professionals’
minds that are needed to drive activities of the department are provided. The Technical
Department is just like a tool in the hands of a farmer who devoted to feeding
its nation.
REFERENCE
Adedeji (1984) “Serials and
Library”, E. Mathus, Jide Publisher, pg. 66.
Aliyu, M. B. (2003) “Collection
Development in Libraries”, Dee Root Publisher, Offa, pg. 23.
Clarks, D (1999) “Acquisition,
the Role of Library”, London, Kinth Publisher.
Issa, A. O. (2003) “Beginners
Text in Librarianship”, Wumi Publishers, Offa, pg. 62
Mark Stone (2006) “Education
in Librarianship Berlin”, Thermolen Publishing Limited pg. 18.
Olanipekun and Ifabiyi (2003) “Organization
of Library”, Dee Root Publishers, Offa, pg. 2
Salman, A. A (2006) “The
Basis in Library and Information Science”, Dee Root, Publisher, Offa, Pg.
34
Wynar, E. (1967) “The
Management of Library Resources”, Chicago, Eden Publishers, pg. 38
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
SOCIAL AND MEDIA CONTROL IN NIGERIA
NAME:- OYEYEMI FRANCIS OLUSANJO
DEPARTMENT:- LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCES
FACULTY:- COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
TITLE:- SOCIAL AND MEDIA CONTROL IN NIGERIA
COURSE:- MAC 322
INTRODUCTION
This paper deals with the social and media control in Nigeria. It firstly look at meaning of social and at the same time look at the meaning of social control, it also examine mechanism use the mechanisms or methods of social control in Nigeria.
Furthermore, this paper also looks at the meaning of media in Nigeria and also looks at some pattern of media ownership in Nigeria and examines the methods o f controlling media in Nigeria.
At the end of the discussion, the paper later concludes that social and media control in Nigeria has recorded enviable leaps in Nigeria
SOCIAL CONTROL
a. Meaning of Social
In the absence of agreement about its meaning, the term “social” is used in many different senses and regarded as a fuzzy concept, therefore social refers to:- Attitudes, orientations, or behaviours which take the interests, intentions, or needs of other people into account. In other word the term “social” refers to a characteristic of living organisms as applied to population of humans.
b. Social Control
Social control refers generally to societal and political mechanisms or processes that regulate individual and group behavior leading to conformity and compliance to the rules of a given society, state, or social group.
Methods of Social Control in Nigeria
Many mechanisms are used for social control in other to prevent the establishment of chaos or anomie in Nigeria. Some theorists, such as Emily Durkheim (1997), refer mechanisms of social control as rule and regulation that guide individual’s behaviour.
Sociologist Simon (1971) identify two basic mechanisms use for social control
1. Internal control:- Internal control is the internalization of norms and values by a process known as socialization. He defined Socialization as “the process by which an individual, born with behavioural potentialities of enormously wide range and led to develop actual behavior which is confined to the narrower range of what is acceptable for him by the group standards or norms.
2. External control: - External control is the external sanctions which can be either positive (reward) or negative (punishment). These sanctions come from either formal or informal control.
While the concept of social control has been around since the formation of organized sociology, the meaning has been altered over time. Originally the concept simply referred to society’s ability to regulate itself. The means to enforce social control can be either formal or informal.
Sociologist Edward A. Ross(1993) argue that belief systems exert a greater control on human behavior than laws imposed by government, no matter what form the beliefs take.
He came across with informal and formal social control
• Informal social control:- He found that the social values that are present in individuals are products of informal social control. It is exercised by a society without explicitly stating these rules and is expressed through customs, norms and mores. Individuals are socialized whether consciously or ostracism can cause a straying towards norms. Traditional society or the society that have small population uses mostly informal social control embedded in its customary culture relying on the socialization of its members. Informal sanction may include shame, ridicule, criticism and disapproval. In extreme cases sanctions may include social discrimination and exclusion. This implied social control usually has more effect on individuals because they become internalized and thus the aspect of personality. Informal social control check “deviant” behavior of the people in the country. As with formal controls, informal controls reward or punish deviant behaviour. Informal controls are varied and differ from individual to individual, group to group and society to society. For example, at a women’s institute meeting, a disapproving look might convey message that it is inappropriate.
• Formal social control:- He also found that Informal social control is often not sufficient in a large society especially Nigeria in which an individual can choose to ignore the sanctions of an individual group. Thus, there is a need for formal control to supplement informal control. Formal control usually takes the form of government action. Government and organizations use law enforcement mechanisms and other formal sanctions such as fines and imprisonment. In democratic societies the goals and mechanisms of formal social control are determined through legislation by elected representatives and thus enjoy a measure of support from the population and voluntary compliance.
Media
The mass media is a by-product of the society. The nature of the society determines to a large extent the kind of media systems the society will have. Defleur et al (1981:239) mass media could be defined as “devices for moving messages across distances or time to accomplish mass communication”. Conventionally, the mass media inform, entertain and educate the people.
Mass media are the major source of information and ideas in modern society. They shape people’s attitude and direct their behaviour to a greater extent. They are also the major instrument of social control in labeling the deviant behaviour in the society. For example the issue of Boko Haram in Nigeria, media are playing crucial role in labeling their deviant behaviour until they change their immoral behaviour.
Socialization
Another method used in Nigeria to control social is the application of socialization. This is understood that man cannot function appropriately in the society without adequate socialization. Otite (1980) defined socialization as the process by which beings that are biologically human become socially human. What this means is that socialization is the process whereby one internalizes the norms of the groups among whom one lives so that a distinct “self” emerges, unique to this individual. Similarly Macionis and Pummber (1997) defined socialization as lifelong social experience by which individuals develop human potential and learn the patterns of their culture. From the above definition, we can note that socialization is the best mechanism that is use to control social in Nigeria because it is a process whereby norms and values of a society such as the belief system, the mode of greeting, the way of eating, the method of naming, the method of burying, the steps in dancing, the way of society. Without it, an individual would not be like any human being and would not be able to conduct his behaviour along the standard approved by his society. They use this through the agent of socialization. For example family is the first agent of socialization that teaches children how to behave in the society while school, religion peer group also teach student on how to behave in society. Therefore socialization is the best method that is use in controlling social in Nigeria.
• MEDIA CONTROL IN NIGERIA
a) Media
The mass media is a by-product of the society. The nature of the society determines to a large extent the kind of media systems the society will have.
Defleur et al (1981:239) Media could be defined as “devices for moving messages across distances or time to accomplish mass communication”. The term mass media is often applied to the technical devices through which information, ideas and attitudes are transmitted to many people in their different locations.
In other word Mass Media is a plural of medium, which means a channel or vehicle through which something is carried or transmitted. In other words, mass media are channels of communication in a modern society, primarily the print and the electronic media. McQuail further describes the mass media as the organized means for communicating openly and at a distance to many receivers within a short space of time
b) Patterns of Media Ownership in Nigeria
i. Government Ownership
This refers to public ownership of the mass media (both print and electronic). Government for political reasons owns the media especially radio and television. This kind of ownership could be operational in both civilian and military regimes. Media are set up, staffed and controlled by government because of the fear that such media houses could be used to cause trouble if left in the hands of private businessmen. This is a common scenario in Africa with the exception of Nigeria which liberalized the broadcast industry in 1992 by allowing private individuals to own radio and television stations. Prior to 1992, only state and federal governments own broadcasting stations. This type of ownership is common in Nigeria and in some African countries.
ii. Private Ownership
This refers to the private ownership of the media (both print and electronic).
iii. Joint Government and Private Ownership
This is a rather joint venture between the government and private businessmen.
iii. Public Ownership
This refers to media operated on behalf of the public by charter and is supposedly “autonomous” or independent to a great extent. Many media organizations in various countries bear the title public corporation; but they are so only in name and not in fact, considering their obvious subservience to government.
iv. User Ownership
This is the initiative of the audience e.g. fan clubs coming with their radio and television stations.
c) Methods of Control over the Media
All three types of government (colonial, civilian and military) that have functioned in Nigeria have implemented policies that have actually restrained freedom of the press. Journalists have been harassed, detained, jailed, and repressive laws and decrees enacted. Comparatively, the British colonial administration may appear to have done the least harm, but it set in motion the kinds of repressive press laws existing in Nigeria today. These pernicious laws and decrees against the media gave government officials legal backing to persecute, fine, detain and imprison journalists, and to proscribe media houses. For instance, the Offensive Publications (Proscription) Decree 35 1993, made it possible for the government to clamp down on six media houses across the nation. Even government owned media were not spared.
There are several ways by which those who wield political power and some media organization control mass media in Nigeria.
I. Authoritarian Media Theory
Dates from the 16th century, the theory describes a situation in which the mass media are subordinated to state power. Whether the media ownership is private or public, they are expected to service the government or its functionaries and are forbidden to criticize government or its functionaries.
The instruments of authoritarian control of the media are many and varied. They include heavy taxation, repressive legislation and direct or subtle state control of staffing. Others are suspension of publication, and rough treatment of journalists which were the hallmark of Babangida and Abacha regimes in Nigeria.
This can be through the arsenals of authoritarian control such as repressive legislation, heavy taxation, direct or indirect control of essential production inputs, rough treatment of media workers, issuing of death threat and in some extreme cases assassination of media workers (e.g Dele Giwa), censorship and closure of media houses (e.g Daily Concord, OGBC, Abeokuta, during the Babangida regime).
Another method used by the government to control media in Nigeria is what Uche (1989, p. 139) calls Coopting. 'Coopting' of journalists ensures that they are reduced to being mere stooges of government officials. It is not surprising therefore that the editor of the Guardian had to publish an article reassuring his readers that his proprietor's acceptance of a ministerial appointment in the government could not influence the objectivity of the newspaper in handling issues concerning government. Other measures of government control include denying journalists access to places and persons for information, refusing to give government advertisements and dubious labeling of documents containing valuable information. All these measures have been used. For example, the newspapers that were pro-government during the colonial rule, the Eagle, Lagos Critic and Record (for some years of its existence) received most government advertisements. But the few indigenous businessmen who could advertise in the newspapers gave their advertisements to the Standard or any other of the newspapers that represented their nationalistic feelings (Omu, 1978). This measure has been in use ever since. Presently, unsurprisingly, one finds more government advertisements in the Daily Times than in any anti-government newspaper.
For instance, within one year of the elected civilian government assuming office in 1990, no less than ten chief executive officers of state-owned broadcasting stations were sacked (Uche, 1989). Those who kept their jobs got the message - toe the line.
Media practitioners have never failed to denounce these controls, except journalists who have been 'coopted'. There have been instances when the government has been taken to court. At times justice was even upheld as in 1975, when a reporter was arrested, flogged and had his hair and beard shaved on the orders of a military government who found his articles offensive. The reporter instituted a court action and, surprisingly, he won the case and the government was asked to pay him damages (Uche 1989, p. 139).
II. Development Media Theory
Development media theory is another method used to control media in Nigeria.
Development media theory was put forward as a means of paying for the imbalance in development and information flow (media) in Nigeria and a solution to the technological problems facing them. Nigeria bedeviled by problems that make the development of mass media system difficult. Some of these problems are the absence of communication infrastructure, the professional skill, the production and cultural resources and the available audience.
The major tenets of Development Media Theory as a method of media control in Nigeria enunciated by McQuail are:
• Media must accept and carry out positive development tasks in line with naturally established policy.
• Freedom of the media should be open to economic priorities and development needs of the society.
• Media should give priority in the content to the national culture and language
• Journalists and other media workers have responsibilities as well as freedom in their information gathering and dissemination tasks.
• In the interest of development, the state has a right to intervene or restrict media operation.
III. ESTABLISHMENT OF REGULATORY BODY (NBC)
In addition, regulatory bodies set up by the government can be a source of negative or positive control of the media. Where there are defects or loopholes in the decree that set up such regulatory bodies, these can be used for repressing freedom of expression. It is thought
that government may intentionally leave loopholes to exploit in silencing any opposition. It is widely believed that one pitfall in the decree that set up the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is the power given to the commission to revoke the licenses of stations which do not operate in accordance with the code and in the public interest. The decree did not specify either how to seek redress or to what the public interest is, as in the American Federal Communication Commission.
Thus the decree allows the NBC to provide licenses in perpetuity only to withdraw them at whim. The influence of the government is seen in the unflinching support government media organizations give the government of day. Government officials do not hesitate to remove anyone in charge who fails to offer unquestioned support. An 'erring' official risks being sacked with 'immediate effect' or faces other punishments for such 'heinous' acts.
Private media proprietors also exert significant control of their media organizations. Proprietors have been known to demand self-censorship by their editors. The proprietor expects those working in their media organizations to understand and protect their interests. Often a proprietor's economic and/or political interests are very influential in how they want their papers to relate to the government of the day. In 1992, Moshood Abiola the multi-millionaire politician, asked his editor Bayo Onanuga to apologize to the then military President Babangida. Onanuga's article in one of the titles of which Abiola is proprietor was believed to have angered the president. However, Onanuga refused to apologize and instead he resigned along with three others. Abiola, however, did apologise and to rub the former editor's nose in the dust, the apology, a private letter from Abiola to the President, was reported exclusively by the Daily Times 23 April 1992.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I could say that media and socialization are the best mechanism to control social in Nigeria, this is because it has recorded some enviable leaps in Nigeria. Therefore more needs to be done by all the stakeholders and government in other to contribute meaningful to the development of media in this country (Nigeria).
REFERENCES
Simon, R. (1971). Mechanism in controlling social and media. Michigan, USA: University Microfilms.
Akpan, C.S (2006). The Pillars of Broadcasting. Nsukka: Communication Studies Forum.
Babatunde, F (1999). Foundation of Broadcasting. Abeokuta: Link Publications.
Daramola, I (2006). History and Development of Mass Media in Nigeria. Lagos: Rothan Press.
Edward A. Ross (1993). The Relationship Between Informal and Formal Strategies of Social Control: An Analysis of the Contemporary Methods of Dispute Processing Among the Igbos of Nigeria, UMI Number 9638581, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA: University Microfilms.
Macionis, J. J. and Plummber, K. (1997). Sociology: A Global Introduction. Prentice Hall; N J.
McQuail, D (2000). Mass Communication Theory. 4th Edition. London: Sage Publication.
Ottenberg, Simon. 1971. Leadership and Authority in an African Society: The Afikpo Village-Group. Seattle, Washington, USA: University of Washington Press.
Otite, O. O. (1979). Introduction to Sociological Studies, Ibadan: Heinemann.
Uche, Luke Uka (1989). Mass Media People and Politics in Nigeria. New Delph: Concept
Publisher Company.
Umechukwu, P (2001).Mass Media and Nigerian Society. Enugu: Thompson Printing and Publication Company.
DEPARTMENT:- LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCES
FACULTY:- COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
TITLE:- SOCIAL AND MEDIA CONTROL IN NIGERIA
COURSE:- MAC 322
INTRODUCTION
This paper deals with the social and media control in Nigeria. It firstly look at meaning of social and at the same time look at the meaning of social control, it also examine mechanism use the mechanisms or methods of social control in Nigeria.
Furthermore, this paper also looks at the meaning of media in Nigeria and also looks at some pattern of media ownership in Nigeria and examines the methods o f controlling media in Nigeria.
At the end of the discussion, the paper later concludes that social and media control in Nigeria has recorded enviable leaps in Nigeria
SOCIAL CONTROL
a. Meaning of Social
In the absence of agreement about its meaning, the term “social” is used in many different senses and regarded as a fuzzy concept, therefore social refers to:- Attitudes, orientations, or behaviours which take the interests, intentions, or needs of other people into account. In other word the term “social” refers to a characteristic of living organisms as applied to population of humans.
b. Social Control
Social control refers generally to societal and political mechanisms or processes that regulate individual and group behavior leading to conformity and compliance to the rules of a given society, state, or social group.
Methods of Social Control in Nigeria
Many mechanisms are used for social control in other to prevent the establishment of chaos or anomie in Nigeria. Some theorists, such as Emily Durkheim (1997), refer mechanisms of social control as rule and regulation that guide individual’s behaviour.
Sociologist Simon (1971) identify two basic mechanisms use for social control
1. Internal control:- Internal control is the internalization of norms and values by a process known as socialization. He defined Socialization as “the process by which an individual, born with behavioural potentialities of enormously wide range and led to develop actual behavior which is confined to the narrower range of what is acceptable for him by the group standards or norms.
2. External control: - External control is the external sanctions which can be either positive (reward) or negative (punishment). These sanctions come from either formal or informal control.
While the concept of social control has been around since the formation of organized sociology, the meaning has been altered over time. Originally the concept simply referred to society’s ability to regulate itself. The means to enforce social control can be either formal or informal.
Sociologist Edward A. Ross(1993) argue that belief systems exert a greater control on human behavior than laws imposed by government, no matter what form the beliefs take.
He came across with informal and formal social control
• Informal social control:- He found that the social values that are present in individuals are products of informal social control. It is exercised by a society without explicitly stating these rules and is expressed through customs, norms and mores. Individuals are socialized whether consciously or ostracism can cause a straying towards norms. Traditional society or the society that have small population uses mostly informal social control embedded in its customary culture relying on the socialization of its members. Informal sanction may include shame, ridicule, criticism and disapproval. In extreme cases sanctions may include social discrimination and exclusion. This implied social control usually has more effect on individuals because they become internalized and thus the aspect of personality. Informal social control check “deviant” behavior of the people in the country. As with formal controls, informal controls reward or punish deviant behaviour. Informal controls are varied and differ from individual to individual, group to group and society to society. For example, at a women’s institute meeting, a disapproving look might convey message that it is inappropriate.
• Formal social control:- He also found that Informal social control is often not sufficient in a large society especially Nigeria in which an individual can choose to ignore the sanctions of an individual group. Thus, there is a need for formal control to supplement informal control. Formal control usually takes the form of government action. Government and organizations use law enforcement mechanisms and other formal sanctions such as fines and imprisonment. In democratic societies the goals and mechanisms of formal social control are determined through legislation by elected representatives and thus enjoy a measure of support from the population and voluntary compliance.
Media
The mass media is a by-product of the society. The nature of the society determines to a large extent the kind of media systems the society will have. Defleur et al (1981:239) mass media could be defined as “devices for moving messages across distances or time to accomplish mass communication”. Conventionally, the mass media inform, entertain and educate the people.
Mass media are the major source of information and ideas in modern society. They shape people’s attitude and direct their behaviour to a greater extent. They are also the major instrument of social control in labeling the deviant behaviour in the society. For example the issue of Boko Haram in Nigeria, media are playing crucial role in labeling their deviant behaviour until they change their immoral behaviour.
Socialization
Another method used in Nigeria to control social is the application of socialization. This is understood that man cannot function appropriately in the society without adequate socialization. Otite (1980) defined socialization as the process by which beings that are biologically human become socially human. What this means is that socialization is the process whereby one internalizes the norms of the groups among whom one lives so that a distinct “self” emerges, unique to this individual. Similarly Macionis and Pummber (1997) defined socialization as lifelong social experience by which individuals develop human potential and learn the patterns of their culture. From the above definition, we can note that socialization is the best mechanism that is use to control social in Nigeria because it is a process whereby norms and values of a society such as the belief system, the mode of greeting, the way of eating, the method of naming, the method of burying, the steps in dancing, the way of society. Without it, an individual would not be like any human being and would not be able to conduct his behaviour along the standard approved by his society. They use this through the agent of socialization. For example family is the first agent of socialization that teaches children how to behave in the society while school, religion peer group also teach student on how to behave in society. Therefore socialization is the best method that is use in controlling social in Nigeria.
• MEDIA CONTROL IN NIGERIA
a) Media
The mass media is a by-product of the society. The nature of the society determines to a large extent the kind of media systems the society will have.
Defleur et al (1981:239) Media could be defined as “devices for moving messages across distances or time to accomplish mass communication”. The term mass media is often applied to the technical devices through which information, ideas and attitudes are transmitted to many people in their different locations.
In other word Mass Media is a plural of medium, which means a channel or vehicle through which something is carried or transmitted. In other words, mass media are channels of communication in a modern society, primarily the print and the electronic media. McQuail further describes the mass media as the organized means for communicating openly and at a distance to many receivers within a short space of time
b) Patterns of Media Ownership in Nigeria
i. Government Ownership
This refers to public ownership of the mass media (both print and electronic). Government for political reasons owns the media especially radio and television. This kind of ownership could be operational in both civilian and military regimes. Media are set up, staffed and controlled by government because of the fear that such media houses could be used to cause trouble if left in the hands of private businessmen. This is a common scenario in Africa with the exception of Nigeria which liberalized the broadcast industry in 1992 by allowing private individuals to own radio and television stations. Prior to 1992, only state and federal governments own broadcasting stations. This type of ownership is common in Nigeria and in some African countries.
ii. Private Ownership
This refers to the private ownership of the media (both print and electronic).
iii. Joint Government and Private Ownership
This is a rather joint venture between the government and private businessmen.
iii. Public Ownership
This refers to media operated on behalf of the public by charter and is supposedly “autonomous” or independent to a great extent. Many media organizations in various countries bear the title public corporation; but they are so only in name and not in fact, considering their obvious subservience to government.
iv. User Ownership
This is the initiative of the audience e.g. fan clubs coming with their radio and television stations.
c) Methods of Control over the Media
All three types of government (colonial, civilian and military) that have functioned in Nigeria have implemented policies that have actually restrained freedom of the press. Journalists have been harassed, detained, jailed, and repressive laws and decrees enacted. Comparatively, the British colonial administration may appear to have done the least harm, but it set in motion the kinds of repressive press laws existing in Nigeria today. These pernicious laws and decrees against the media gave government officials legal backing to persecute, fine, detain and imprison journalists, and to proscribe media houses. For instance, the Offensive Publications (Proscription) Decree 35 1993, made it possible for the government to clamp down on six media houses across the nation. Even government owned media were not spared.
There are several ways by which those who wield political power and some media organization control mass media in Nigeria.
I. Authoritarian Media Theory
Dates from the 16th century, the theory describes a situation in which the mass media are subordinated to state power. Whether the media ownership is private or public, they are expected to service the government or its functionaries and are forbidden to criticize government or its functionaries.
The instruments of authoritarian control of the media are many and varied. They include heavy taxation, repressive legislation and direct or subtle state control of staffing. Others are suspension of publication, and rough treatment of journalists which were the hallmark of Babangida and Abacha regimes in Nigeria.
This can be through the arsenals of authoritarian control such as repressive legislation, heavy taxation, direct or indirect control of essential production inputs, rough treatment of media workers, issuing of death threat and in some extreme cases assassination of media workers (e.g Dele Giwa), censorship and closure of media houses (e.g Daily Concord, OGBC, Abeokuta, during the Babangida regime).
Another method used by the government to control media in Nigeria is what Uche (1989, p. 139) calls Coopting. 'Coopting' of journalists ensures that they are reduced to being mere stooges of government officials. It is not surprising therefore that the editor of the Guardian had to publish an article reassuring his readers that his proprietor's acceptance of a ministerial appointment in the government could not influence the objectivity of the newspaper in handling issues concerning government. Other measures of government control include denying journalists access to places and persons for information, refusing to give government advertisements and dubious labeling of documents containing valuable information. All these measures have been used. For example, the newspapers that were pro-government during the colonial rule, the Eagle, Lagos Critic and Record (for some years of its existence) received most government advertisements. But the few indigenous businessmen who could advertise in the newspapers gave their advertisements to the Standard or any other of the newspapers that represented their nationalistic feelings (Omu, 1978). This measure has been in use ever since. Presently, unsurprisingly, one finds more government advertisements in the Daily Times than in any anti-government newspaper.
For instance, within one year of the elected civilian government assuming office in 1990, no less than ten chief executive officers of state-owned broadcasting stations were sacked (Uche, 1989). Those who kept their jobs got the message - toe the line.
Media practitioners have never failed to denounce these controls, except journalists who have been 'coopted'. There have been instances when the government has been taken to court. At times justice was even upheld as in 1975, when a reporter was arrested, flogged and had his hair and beard shaved on the orders of a military government who found his articles offensive. The reporter instituted a court action and, surprisingly, he won the case and the government was asked to pay him damages (Uche 1989, p. 139).
II. Development Media Theory
Development media theory is another method used to control media in Nigeria.
Development media theory was put forward as a means of paying for the imbalance in development and information flow (media) in Nigeria and a solution to the technological problems facing them. Nigeria bedeviled by problems that make the development of mass media system difficult. Some of these problems are the absence of communication infrastructure, the professional skill, the production and cultural resources and the available audience.
The major tenets of Development Media Theory as a method of media control in Nigeria enunciated by McQuail are:
• Media must accept and carry out positive development tasks in line with naturally established policy.
• Freedom of the media should be open to economic priorities and development needs of the society.
• Media should give priority in the content to the national culture and language
• Journalists and other media workers have responsibilities as well as freedom in their information gathering and dissemination tasks.
• In the interest of development, the state has a right to intervene or restrict media operation.
III. ESTABLISHMENT OF REGULATORY BODY (NBC)
In addition, regulatory bodies set up by the government can be a source of negative or positive control of the media. Where there are defects or loopholes in the decree that set up such regulatory bodies, these can be used for repressing freedom of expression. It is thought
that government may intentionally leave loopholes to exploit in silencing any opposition. It is widely believed that one pitfall in the decree that set up the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is the power given to the commission to revoke the licenses of stations which do not operate in accordance with the code and in the public interest. The decree did not specify either how to seek redress or to what the public interest is, as in the American Federal Communication Commission.
Thus the decree allows the NBC to provide licenses in perpetuity only to withdraw them at whim. The influence of the government is seen in the unflinching support government media organizations give the government of day. Government officials do not hesitate to remove anyone in charge who fails to offer unquestioned support. An 'erring' official risks being sacked with 'immediate effect' or faces other punishments for such 'heinous' acts.
Private media proprietors also exert significant control of their media organizations. Proprietors have been known to demand self-censorship by their editors. The proprietor expects those working in their media organizations to understand and protect their interests. Often a proprietor's economic and/or political interests are very influential in how they want their papers to relate to the government of the day. In 1992, Moshood Abiola the multi-millionaire politician, asked his editor Bayo Onanuga to apologize to the then military President Babangida. Onanuga's article in one of the titles of which Abiola is proprietor was believed to have angered the president. However, Onanuga refused to apologize and instead he resigned along with three others. Abiola, however, did apologise and to rub the former editor's nose in the dust, the apology, a private letter from Abiola to the President, was reported exclusively by the Daily Times 23 April 1992.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I could say that media and socialization are the best mechanism to control social in Nigeria, this is because it has recorded some enviable leaps in Nigeria. Therefore more needs to be done by all the stakeholders and government in other to contribute meaningful to the development of media in this country (Nigeria).
REFERENCES
Simon, R. (1971). Mechanism in controlling social and media. Michigan, USA: University Microfilms.
Akpan, C.S (2006). The Pillars of Broadcasting. Nsukka: Communication Studies Forum.
Babatunde, F (1999). Foundation of Broadcasting. Abeokuta: Link Publications.
Daramola, I (2006). History and Development of Mass Media in Nigeria. Lagos: Rothan Press.
Edward A. Ross (1993). The Relationship Between Informal and Formal Strategies of Social Control: An Analysis of the Contemporary Methods of Dispute Processing Among the Igbos of Nigeria, UMI Number 9638581, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA: University Microfilms.
Macionis, J. J. and Plummber, K. (1997). Sociology: A Global Introduction. Prentice Hall; N J.
McQuail, D (2000). Mass Communication Theory. 4th Edition. London: Sage Publication.
Ottenberg, Simon. 1971. Leadership and Authority in an African Society: The Afikpo Village-Group. Seattle, Washington, USA: University of Washington Press.
Otite, O. O. (1979). Introduction to Sociological Studies, Ibadan: Heinemann.
Uche, Luke Uka (1989). Mass Media People and Politics in Nigeria. New Delph: Concept
Publisher Company.
Umechukwu, P (2001).Mass Media and Nigerian Society. Enugu: Thompson Printing and Publication Company.
SOCIAL AND MEDIA CONTROL IN NIGERIA
NAME:- OYEYEMI FRANCIS OLUSANJO
DEPARTMENT:- LIBRARY AND INFORMATION
SCIENCES
FACULTY:- COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
SCIENCE
TITLE:- SOCIAL AND MEDIAL CONTROL IN
NIGERIA
COURSE:- MAC 322
INTRODUCTION
This paper
deals with the social and media control in Nigeria. It firstly look at meaning
of social and at the same time look at the meaning of social control, it also
examine mechanism use the mechanisms or methods of social control in Nigeria.
Furthermore, this paper also looks at the
meaning of media in Nigeria and also looks at some pattern of media ownership
in Nigeria and examines the methods o f controlling media in Nigeria.
At
the end of the discussion, the paper later concludes that social and media
control in Nigeria has recorded enviable leaps in Nigeria.
SOCIAL CONTROL
a.
Meaning of
Social
In the absence of agreement about its
meaning, the term “social” is used in many different senses and regarded as a
fuzzy concept, therefore social refers to:- Attitudes, orientations, or
behaviours which take the interests, intentions, or needs of other people into
account. In other word the term “social” refers to a characteristic of living
organisms as applied to population of humans.
b.
Social
Control
Social control refers generally to societal and political
mechanisms or processes that regulate individual and group behavior leading to
conformity and compliance to the rules of a given society, state, or social
group.
Methods of Social Control in Nigeria
Many mechanisms are used for social control in other to
prevent the establishment of chaos or anomie in Nigeria. Some theorists, such
as Emily Durkheim (1997), refer mechanisms of social control as rule and regulation
that guide individual’s behaviour.
Sociologist Simon
(1971) identify two basic mechanisms use for social control
1.
Internal control:- Internal
control is the internalization of norms and values by a process known as
socialization. He defined Socialization as “the process by which an individual,
born with behavioural potentialities of enormously wide range and led to
develop actual behavior which is confined to the narrower range of what is
acceptable for him by the group standards or norms.
2.
External control: -
External control is the external sanctions which can be either positive
(reward) or negative (punishment). These sanctions come from either formal or
informal control.
While the concept of social control has been around since
the formation of organized sociology, the meaning has been altered over time.
Originally the concept simply referred to society’s ability to regulate itself.
The means to enforce social control can be either formal or informal.
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