Social media bill: NASS planning to bring back Decree 4 – Odusile

By Agboola Bayo
Ibadan

National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ, Alhaji Waheed Odusile, yesterday accused the National Assembly of planning to bring back the widely condemned Decree 4 of 1983 in form of social media bill.
The NUJ President said this at the opening of the 2015 Oyo NUJ Press week holding at the council’s press centre in Ibadan.

Odusile pointed out that Nigeria media will never allow the social media bill presently before the National Assembly to see the light of the day, saying “they are trying to bring back the widely condemned Decree 4 of 1983 to satisfy their selfish interests.”
“It is a law targeted at restricting freedom of expression. I am imploring our state councils to submit petitions at their respective state assemblies. We should also register our grievances at our respective governor’s offices,” he said.

Odusile pointed out that NUJ would also mobilise its members across the country to the national assembly to stop the bill whenever it is presented for public hearing.
On the non-payment of media practitioner’s salaries, the NUJ President urged proprietors to ensure regular payment of members to avoid facing the wrath.

He called on Dr Raymond Dokpesi and Governor Abiola Ajimobi to pay media practitioners working for their respective media houses, saying, “I have commended the governor for his giant strides in the state but will not take lightly with him if he continues to deny our members their salary.

“The recent revelation of N2.1bn is so devastating; how will someone use our members to raise such fund and still not pay them’’.
Oyo NUJ chairman, Comrade Gbenga Opadotun, lauded NUJ members for the large turnout, saying the theme of the lecture was carefully chosen to brainstorm and collate ideas that could salvage nation from its current economic woes.