By Tony Akowe, Abuja
Sponsor of the controversial Nigerian Press Council Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives, Segun Odebunmi (APC, Oyo), has said media industry stakeholders have a right to reject the Bill entirely or some sections of the proposed law they are not comfortable with.
Odebunmi also said the sections of the proposed law which tend to confer enormous power on the Minister of Information were not sacrosanct.
The lawmaker urged industry stakeholders to present their position on the Bill to the House.
In an interview yesterday in Abuja, Odebunmi dismissed reports that he was sponsored to gag the media in Nigeria.
The lawmaker insisted that nobody sponsored him.
Acknowledging the role the media played in the restoration of democracy in the country, Odebunmi said the essence of public hearings was to gather stakeholders’ view on any Bill.
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The lawmaker noted that if, at the end of the day the stakeholders reject a Bill, his committee would report the rejection to the House.
He said the provision was subject to amendment since the Bill was undergoing scrutiny in the House.
Odebunmi, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, National Orientation and Ethics, said he conceived the Bill to reposition and sanitise the nation’s media industry.
He said: “I have the privilege of serving this committee for the second time now. The Press Council is one of the agencies under the supervision of this committee.
“My experience with the agency is as if the agency does not exist. Obviously, you know there’s always a fund given to them, either a capital fund or for the personnel. For the years I’ve been in that committee, I am not really happy with the performance of that agency. I am aware they are in court for years now. Why are we in court? Why, in a democratic era?
“We are lucky that none of the previous governments had used the existing Act to deal with any of you (journalists). If they wanted to judge any of you according to existing law, there will be serious problems for the press.
“Personally, I cannot sit down in my comfortable room and say I want to make a law for this country. It is not possible; it is not done anywhere. That is why the process is very clear. There must be public hearing.
“What are we gaining in public hearing? We are using the public hearing to gather the facts, to gather information from the stakeholders. Wherever you think some Bills are not okay and you can add value to them, bring your idea. That is my intention, and I can say it loud and clear that there’s nobody behind this Bill.
“I have an independent mind on this Bill and I lay it for the public hearing for stakeholders to put their input so that we can have the best for this country.
“It is already existing, but go and check it. Mind you, there are many people in this profession, even if you want to be talking about salary. Are they well paid? Where will they rush to if there is a problem?
“That is why I am calling for the stakeholders to come together, come up with a code that would be approved. There’s a process to approve the code. All the stakeholders will come together before they can approve that code.
“The code can be put together by professional journalists based on what you think should guide you that protects even the voiceless among you.”
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