It Was This Social Media That Brought Us To Power
The House of Representatives has made its stand known on the anti-social media bill proposed to the Senate by the Deputy Senate Leader Sen. Bala Ibn Na’Allah.
While speaking to newsmen after a dinner hosted by President Muhammadu Buhari for members of the House of Representatives at the State House Banquet Hall on Wednesday, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Publicity, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas has said the reps are in support of helping the federal government in fighting corruption and generating employment as well as security but not on closing the space for free speech.
He said:
“As Chairman, House Committee on Media, I must say
that we cannot close space for free speech. We would like to ensure that
there is free speech. And the only thing we try to enjoin is that
journalists, who are trained, who know the ethics of journalism, should
also join the social media activity so that we can differentiate between
the grains and the chaff.
I think that is most essential, but we should not
leave it for just those who think they can just post anything. Ideally, I
think it is very important that we allow free speech. With time we will
get to the level that we can regulate. For now I think Nigerians will
rely on them. We came on the platter of change and it was this social
media that brought us to power and we are making effective changes on
that; I think we should live with that.’’
I think as a legislative arm of government we will
ensure that all these things that he has placed at the front burner in
his administration we will ensure that we support him.’’
