House of Representatives buckles, suspends Press Bills; as sponsor promises more consultation

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values, Segun Odebunmi, who is also the sponsor of the Nigeria Press Council (NPC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Amendment Bill, said that the House had agreed to suspend the bill.

Odebunmi, who was a guest on Channels TV’s “Sunrise Daily” on Tuesday explained that the suspension was to allow for proper consultations over the bill.

“We have been on this process for a while and right now, we have suspended it for more consultation to happen on it,” he said.

The lawmaker had earlier faulted claims that the bill was targeted at gagging the media.

He rather maintained that it was aimed at removing identified hindrances to optimum performance.

The suspension comes after the bill was widely criticised by Nigerians, mostly media operators who believe it was aimed at stifling media operations.

* “It’s about society’s rights”

Several newspapers in Nigeria had, on Monday, published an advertorial against media regulation bills being considered at the National Assembly.

With a bold headline titled “Information Blackout”, the advertorial said the NPC and NBC (Media) Act amendment bills being considered by federal lawmakers was geared against the right of citizens information.

“It’s not just against the media,” the advertorial said. “It is about society’s right to know, your right to be heard.”

While the Federal Government already regulates broadcast media organisations through the NBC, it now seeks to extend regulations to online platforms.

In June, the government suspended the operations of social media giant, Twitter, over what it described as national security concerns.

Subsequently, all social media platforms were asked to register with the NBC, while all broadcast stations were ordered to stop using Twitter.