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Senate debates Press Council bill
By Adetutu
Folasade-Koyi
and Paul Mumeh,
Abuja
The Senate on Tuesday reopened old wounds
when it began deliberations on the controversial Nigerian Press Council bill
(2003) that will make it easy to regulate journalism in the country.
The Senate is pushing for the establishment
of a central body for journalists , with the hope that the era of what they
called ‘subversive elements’ and ‘mushroom journalists who
are not well trained’ will be checked by the NPC.
The bill, sponsored by Deputy Senate
Leader, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, seeks to repeal the Nigerian Press Council
Act No 85 of 1992 as amended and to enact a new Nigerian Press Council Act
(2003) with a reorganised composition of members and also provide saving
provisions for the assets, rights, liabilities and staff.
But the bill will not be passed into law
without input from stakeholders at a scheduled Public Hearing by the Senate Committee
on Information.
In Zwingina’s opening debate at
Tuesday’s plenary session chaired by the Acting Senate president, Senator
Ibrahim Mantu, he acknowledged that the bill was not really a new bill, having
been in existence during the last Senate but that because of its controversial
nature, it never really got off the ground.
“It is really an old bill which
originated from the past Senate. Decree 85 of 1992 was very controversial,
which didn’t allow it to take off properly.
The effective way by which that bill can be
operational is by way of amendment, which is what we are seeking to do now. The
NPC will be there to determine the level of professionalism and to reprimand
any erring member,” said Zwingina.
Senate Leader, Senator Dalhatu Tafida
supported the bill, comparing it the Nigeria Medical Council (NMC) which
regulates medical practice in Nigeria. But the Senate leader urged his
colleagues to allow stakeholders who will be affected by the bill to make input
before it is passed into law. He said: “ Mr president, in the NMC, we
have something similar.
That body is responsible for suspending or
withdrawing the licence of erring members. That is the kind of work we expect
the council to do when it is set up. There is the need to expose this bill to serious
scrutiny by those likely to be afflicted by it through a public hearing.”
Senator Danso Sodangi seconded the bill,
and urged his colleagues to accelrate hearing on the bill, as the existence of
the NPC would help to serve as a check on quacks in the profession. “ I
believe that this is a very important bill if eventually passed into law. It
would serve as a sort of control on journalism practice in Nigeria. Journalism
is an image-making organ and it reflects the views of the masses as well. With
the passage of this bill, I believe the industry will have a sort of control
over members and secondly, it will sanitise and also democratise their modus
operandi in the country.”
The council, when established, shall among other functions,
inquire into complaints about the conduct of the press and conduct of any
person or organization towards the press and exercise in respect of the
complaints the powers conferred on it under the Act; monitor the activities of
the press with a view to ensuring compliance with the code of Ethics of the
Nigerian Press Organisation; and also ensure the protection of the rights and
privileges of journalists in the lawful performance of their professional
duties.
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