By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The sponsor of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) and the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Acts amendment Bills, Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi, has disclosed that they have been stepped down for further consultation.
This followed public outcry by Nigerians and media stakeholders who expressed fear and reservations that the amendments sought were “draconian” and aimed at gagging free speech.
However, Odebunmi said while appearing on a Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily, on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, that the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) cannot force the National Assembly to drop the amendment process entirely.
He explained: “Personally, I’m suspending the process for more consultation.
“What I’m saying is that the NUJ cannot gag the activities of the national assembly by saying ‘No you must drop it’, because obviously that is not the way.
“We have suspended the process for more consultation to happen on it. They demanded for a lot of time and I said ‘no problem, we have given you; even if you spend three, four to five weeks.’
“So far, more consultations from critical stakeholders, and many people have been submitting their memoranda to the national assembly even within the industry.”
He maintained that the lapses in the practice of journalism in Nigeria should be addressed, hence the amendments aimed at fixing problematic areas.
“My intention is not to gag the press, and unless all the practitioners can say all is well with the industry, to the best of my knowledge I know all is not well. And I know the national assembly has the power to look into the existing act.
“All is not well with the NPC agency. It is an agency of government, and you’re expecting something to be given back to the society, but until now nothing has been coming from the agency,” he explained.