The leadership of the House of Representatives, on Monday, underscored the need for effective and professional dissemination of information with a view to ensure peaceful coexistence, national cohesion, social stability, economic growth and political development in Nigeria.
In his keynote address at the opening of the two-day workshop for Journalists covering the House of Representatives’ activities co-organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila stressed the need for training and retraining of politicians and Journalists from time to time with a view to contributing better to the development of the Legislature and by extension our democracy.
The Speaker who was represented by the Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Hon. Nkiruika Onyejeocha maintained that the “media in itself is an integral part of our democracy. In fact, as we all know, it is often referred to as the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
“This is how important and relevant the media is to us. So, anything that has to do with the media should be given the seriousness that it deserves by all lovers of democracy.”
On his part, the Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu observed that the focus of this workshop was to equip journalists covering the activities of the House of Representatives with the necessary skills and proficiency to effectively report the intricate and strenuous processes, procedures and practices of the legislature, which is not only apt but also very imperative.
“An equipped media will not only report facts but also help shape opinion and put the legislature on its toes for the good of the nation. The media fought for the establishment of our current democratic dispensation. It has not relented in making sacrifices to ensure that our democracy is not derailed but rather deepened in the overall national interest.
“Effective and professional dissemination of information is vital to peaceful coexistence, national cohesion, social stability, economic growth and political development.
“The media, therefore, has the burden to not only report facts but also adhere to the principles of information gatekeeping and social responsibility.
“It is instructive to state that while we give all support to the entrenchment of press freedom, the media must also endeavour to respect the rights of others and operate within the ambit of the law.”
He, however, lamented that: “With the advent of social media comes the influx of amateurs and quacks in addition to the challenges of fake news, inaccurate reporting and misrepresentation of facts, with their serious negative impact on our society.
“The frenzy for breaking news results to the abuse of professional checks and information gatekeeping. Gory contents, including photographs and videos that do more harm to our society, are posted without restrain and control.
“This has led to unpleasant social consequences sometimes resulting in avoidable violence social unrest, sectional animosity and hostility, personal losses, economic depression breakdown of a relationship, killings and even suicide.
“The challenge has brought serious debate regarding the regulation of the social media in Nigeria. You as professionals in the media industry must come together to assist in finding a way through these challenges.
“Another area of concern is that of remuneration and welfare of journalists, the condition and environment in which you practice as well as the challenges of ownership in the industry.
“Journalists work under a very hazardous circumstance and the task can be frustrating in the absence of proper remuneration. Such a situation opens practitioners up to lures towards unwholesome practices.
“I urge this workshop to come up with suggestions and recommendations on issues of welfare and safety of journalists, fake news as well as the demands of social responsibility in the industry,” Hon. Elumelu stressed.
In his remarks, NILDS Director-General, Prof. Olanrewaju Sulaiman who applauded the National Assembly’s leadership foresight in ensuring that the development of the capacity of members of the Press Corps is realized, maintained that “recognizing the role of the media in promoting not just an open political system but also projecting the efforts of the Parliament at ensuring that the dividends of democracy permeate through to the grassroots, with the aim to improve legislative reporting and build an effective relationship between the Parliament and the press.”
While urging Media Practitioners, particularly those covering the National Assembly on the need to partner with Parliament to promote, expand and sustain the democratic practice in the country, Prof Suleiman who was represented by NILDS’ Director of Studies, Dr Asimiyu Abiola expressed optimism that the workshops will address the need for professionalism and objectivity in reporting on Legislators while highlighting the importance of the media in the promotion and protection of democratic values in Nigeria.
“You have ascribed a high responsibility and therefore should always endeavour to ascertain whether what you have fed the public with was in the national interest. In performing this task, you are expected to report on Parliament’s activities with seriousness and not with levity because a whole nation’s survival and development depend on the results you produce.
“On the part of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, responsible for the advancement of the capacity of Legislatures across Nigeria and beyond, in just two years of my stewardship has trained about 1,000 Legislative Aides, who play important roles in assisting Lawmakers to fulfil their mandate and will stop at nothing to ensure that the capacity of members of the Press Corps., considered to be the link between the Parliament and the public is developed.
“Nevertheless, members of the fourth estate of the realm should go beyond participation in workshops and seminars. You should apply yourself to scholarship; carry out research, go for in-service training, take time out to retrain and possibly specialise in various subject areas of Parliamentary work.
“The Institute in affiliation with the University of Benin offers such Post Graduate Programmes in Parliamentary Administration, Legislative Studies, Legislative Drafting, Elections and Party Politics and other areas that guarantee excellence through which you become icons worth emulating when it touches on journalistic practice vis a vis Parliamentary reportage.”
In his remarks, Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Benjamin Kalu who observed that the press is a vital component of democracy with the explicit capacity of advocacy and the implicit capacity to frame political issues, acknowledged the roles of the media as enshrined in Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as gatekeepers of public issues, the fourth estate of the realm, to provide checks and balances to the three branches of government.
“Unlike Emperor Qin, this 9th House of Representatives embraces the press, understands the press and is rooting for a press that is unbiased, objective and professional in executing its constitutional mandate, because, only through the preservation of an efficient press can we nurture our nascent democracy into a thriving one.
“Over the past two decades, the reputation of the Nigerian legislature has been shrouded in controversy, with many citizens sceptical of the role of the Nigerian Legislature in national development. Many Nigerians hold the view that the legislature has not shown a significant and genuine commitment to the social, economic and political well-being of the country.
“This undesirable reputation can be attributed to an acute lack of understanding of the workings and role of the legislature in our national development. It is also due to a deficit in press coverage and reportage of activities of the House. “
While applauding the contribution of the media practitioners covering the House of Representatives’ activities, Hon. Kalu affirmed that the “Press Corps has, under its current leadership, done a fair job of informing the public on the activities of the legislature. However, as with all things in life, there is always room for improvement.
“Therefore, today, recognizing the importance of the press in our nascent democracy and nation-building, this workshop has been organized to build the capacity of the press corps of the House of Representatives. It marks the fulfilment of a key item in the work-plan of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs under my leadership.
“As mentioned earlier, the 9th House of Representatives continues to stand for freedom of speech, recognizes the value of the fourth estate of the realm to our democracy, especially in times like this, and remains committed to protecting free speech and independence of the media and its journalists.
“On the other hand, however, the press must play their role in national development in an environment that is free and independent, with fair ownership spread as biases, sensationalism, propaganda, fake news and media vices are inimical to the press’ role in national development,” Hon. Kalu noted.
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