Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation Ethics and Values, Hon Segun Odebunmi has declared that the Nigeria Press Council (NPC) Amendment Bill “is not controversial” as being portrayed.
Hon Odebunmi in a statement on Sunday by his media office made available to journalists in Ibadan, said the intention of the amendment bill is to remove the identified and existing hindrances and bottlenecks standing in the way of optimum performance of the NPC bill.
According to the lawmaker representing Ogo Oluwa/ Surulere federal constituency who initiated the bill , it was initiated “with an independent mind and a view to make the Council be in tune with current realities in the Media industry,” adding that “this is without infringing on the freedom of expression, as well as unhindered flow of information among Nigerians.
“The Bill is not controversial. It is those who are reacting to the bill with little or no insight into what the bill entails that are causing confusion. Specifically, the bill in section 2 attempts to amend the existing section by substituting section 2 for a new section 2 by separating the council from the board to the council, where the council to be headed by the Executive Secretary will be responsible for the day to day administration of the Council,” he said .
Hon Odebunmi stressed, ” the board to the Council which will comprise of Representatives from all stakeholders, including The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Guild of Editors, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigerian (NPAN), Members of the Public etc will be represented and serve as a board”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker, pointed out that the call for the establishments of Press code “is to protect and guide the council to checkmate and reduce quackery and merchants fake news as well as promoter of hate speech which is already affecting the integrity of the noble profession of media practices in Nigeria”
“This is as applicable in a sister agency like the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). In essence the two important bodies will exist simultaneously and in their respective capacities.”
