Proposed NPC Act Amendment Not To Gag Press — Sponsor

The sponsor of the controversial Nigerian Press Council (NPC)
amendment bill, Oluwasegun Odebunmi, has said it is not meant to
gag press freedom but to remove bottlenecks retarding the optimum
performance of the NPC, as well as sanitise media practice in the
country.

Odebunmi, who is also the chairman, House of Representatives
Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values,
disclosed this while speaking to journalists yesterday.

He said the NPC amendment bill was initiated with an independent
mind to transform and make the Council move with the current
realities in the media industry.

According to him, the essence of the public hearing on the bill
was to allow inputs from stakeholders, groups and members of the
public.

He said there was the need to clear the air on the wrong public
perception regarding the bill, especially the series of misgivings
expressed by critical stakeholders that see the proposed amendment
as a threat.

According to him, the proposal for the establishment of a ‘press
code’ as proposed in the bill was to protect and guide the Council
to checkmate and reduce quackery, fake news and tackle promoters of
hate speech.

He noted that fake news and other unethical practices were
already affecting the integrity of the journalism profession and
media practice in Nigeria.

He said, “The bill shouldn’t have been controversial as
everything regarding the sections proposed to be amended have been
clearly spelt out.”

The sponsor of the controversial Nigerian Press Council (NPC)
amendment bill, Oluwasegun Odebunmi, has said it is not meant to
gag press freedom but to remove bottlenecks retarding the optimum
performance of the NPC, as well as sanitise media practice in the
country.

Odebunmi, who is also the chairman, House of Representatives
Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values,
disclosed this while speaking to journalists yesterday.

He said the NPC amendment bill was initiated with an independent
mind to transform and make the Council move with the current
realities in the media industry.

According to him, the essence of the public hearing on the bill
was to allow inputs from stakeholders, groups and members of the
public.

He said there was the need to clear the air on the wrong public
perception regarding the bill, especially the series of misgivings
expressed by critical stakeholders that see the proposed amendment
as a threat.

According to him, the proposal for the establishment of a ‘press
code’ as proposed in the bill was to protect and guide the Council
to checkmate and reduce quackery, fake news and tackle promoters of
hate speech.

He noted that fake news and other unethical practices were
already affecting the integrity of the journalism profession and
media practice in Nigeria.

He said, “The bill shouldn’t have been controversial as
everything regarding the sections proposed to be amended have been
clearly spelt out.”