The Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila on Monday assured Nigerians of the Parliament’s resolve towards ensuring the safe return of the missing Vanguard Reporter, Tordue Salem on October 13, 2021.
Hon Gbajabiamila who gave the assurance in Abuja while declaring open a 2-day capacity workshop for the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs jointly organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, pledged to ensure uphold the freedom of speech as one of the tenets of democracy.
He said: “I do know that the Vanguard Correspondent in the House of Representatives, Tordue Salem who has been missing for some weeks now is still yet to be found.
“I have been in contact with that leadership of the Press Corps and the authority that is doing this investigation since this matter came to light. I want to encourage Security agencies not to relent in their effort to locate Tordue and bring him back to the House. I see the Press Corps as part of the Institution and anything that torches one, torches the rest of us,” he noted.
The Speaker lauded the House Committee chaired by Hon. Ben Kalu for taking the task of correcting some negative impressions about the parliament.
“It goes to say that this Committee plays an important role in the activities of the House as it is the intermediary between the House and the public. Your work goes a long way to shape the perception of the House of Representatives and correct any misconception in the public sphere.
“You have a critical role in re-phrasing the narrative of the public about the House of Representatives and in giving direction to the legislature and in propelling policies of the government. That is why those of you who practice in the Institution are referred to as the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
“The House of Representatives and indeed the National Assembly, like every legislature in the world is perhaps the most misunderstood institution. Some of the misunderstandings is unintentional.
“Some of the misunderstandings is sometimes political. Unfortunately, some of the misunderstandings, it falls therefore on members of this committee to begin to educate the public to change the narrative because sometimes, we are not aware or are ignorant of unforeseen consequences of what will happen when a small committee or an Institution like the National Assembly is understood or misjudged.
“It has the potential of snowballing or having a larger and more dangerous effect on our democracy. That is why we look at the Committee from the prism of your work which is strategic to the survival of democracy,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Benjamin Kalu who observed that the media has been decentralised assured that the House will continue to uphold the freedom of speech under the law.
“The Press has been decentralized, with oftentimes destructive outcomes. But such is the price that we must pay for the beauty that is democracy and the exchange that we must uphold for freedom of speech- the inalienable right of every Nigerian.
“We have continued to engage with the Nigerian public through traditional and new media to clarify issues and ensure that every Nigerian can access first-hand information on legislative activities.
“We have worked in lockstep with all the standing committees of the House ensuring that we are, at all times, abreast of their oversight activities to enable us adequately represent and defend the overall interest of the House.
“We have also advanced programs, as well as an environment, that serves to promote public engagement, education, awareness, and reorientation including periodic stakeholder roundtables; training and capacity building for members of the Press Corps.
“While we must continue to hold the media accountable for an objective and balanced reportage it is important to note that they face hazards in the line of duty and as such the Parliament, especially the Committee which I oversee, will continue to see to their safety and improves remuneration for the profession.
“Only recently, Tordue Salem a reporter for Vanguard newspapers covering the House of Representatives went missing. The Media and Public Affairs Committee under the able Leadership of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila will not rest on its oars until our own is found,” he assured.
On his part, the Director-General of NILDS, Professor Olanrewaju Sulieman encouraged the National Assembly to develop media and communication strategies to properly inform the people of their activities.
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