Anti-media Bills Seek to Whittle Down Free Speech, Say Igbo Journalists

A group of veteran journalists of Igbo extraction under the auspices of Onu Igbo have expressed concern with the bills sponsored by Olusegun Olubunmi, a member representing Ogo Oluwa/Surulere federal constituency of Oyo State seeking to whittle down the power of free expression as constitutionally guaranteed.

A statement by the group regretted that the national Broadcasting Commission Amendment Bill and the Press Council Bill though stepped down sought to control broadcast, online and hard copy publications in the country which would serve to bridge free speech.

“Our attention has been drawn to the obnoxious bills before the House of Representatives which seek to amend the Nigeria Press Council (NPC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Acts. The Bills, sponsored by Honourable Olusegun Odebunmi, member representing Ogo Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency of Oyo State, understandably raised eyebrows within media circles and among persons of goodwill across Nigeria and beyond. The bills were subsequently reportedly stepped down to allow for further engagements with stake holders.

“The NBC (Amendment) Bill intends to add “all online media” to the list currently under the control of the subsisting Act. In other words, the government, through the NBC, wants to censor online media contents the same way it currently censors radio and TV stations across the country. Given the way the NBC has recently exercised its powers arbitrarily against stations which broadcast contents that are construed to embarrass the government, this is clearly an attempt to make Aso Rock the Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of all online content creators in Nigeria.

“The NPC (Amendment) Bill is even much more invasive. Taken together, the proposals seek among others, to: (A). Put all board memberships and operational control mechanisms at the NPC firmly under the control of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the Minister of Information. (B). Give the Council power to license and revoke licenses for media practice in Nigeria with the approval of the Minister of Information. (C). Transfer some of the collective powers of the Board to the portfolio of the Executive Secretary of NPC who will be appointed by government. (D).