The House of Representatives has announced the suspension of the controversial Nigerian Press Council (NPC) amendment bill before the National Assembly.
Hon. Odebunmi, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information National Orientation Ethics and Values disclosed this on Tuesday.
Odebunmi, a lawmaker representing Ogo Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency of Oyo State and sponsor of the bill said the bill’s suspension was to allow for more consultation with appropriate authorities and stakeholders.
The NPC Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) Act Cap N128, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1992.
With the provisions in the bill, the Minister of Information will derive more powers to control the conduct of print media houses and media practitioners from the proposed amendment.
The minister will also have rights to approve penalties and fines against violation of the Press Code by print media houses and media practitioners, including revocation of license.
Section 3 (c) of the amendment bill says: “with the approval of the minister in charge of information, establish and disseminate a national Press Code and standards to guide conduct of print media, related media and media practitioners.”
Following the emergence of the amendment bill, many Nigerians, including journalists and CSOs have raised alarmed, accusing the Nigerian government of planning to clamp down on freedom of information.
Similarly, most newspapers in the country had on Monday featured an advertorial on their cover pages, calling on citizens to themselves own the campaign against what they described as looming “information blackout” in Nigeria, should the ammendment to the two Acts scale through.
Meanwhile, following widespread condemnation, Odebunmi, while speaking on Channels TV announced that the bill has been suspended.
In his words, “We have suspended the process for more consultation to happen on it. They demanded 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.
“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.”
