9th NASS inauguration: Guidelines for coverage unreasonable –IPC

By Mary Agidi
|
The Director of the International Press Centre, IPC, Lagos Mr. Lanre Arogundade has condemned the just released guidelines by the National Assembly for media houses’ coverage of the ninth Assembly inauguration.

Arogundade who spoke with The Hope on telephone interview described the guidelines as quite unreasonable, noting that journalists are bound by the constitution to cover public proceedings and to hold public office holders accountable.

He noted that the lawmakers as Public servants have no right to create unnecessary barrier to prevent journalists from performing their duty.

“I don’t know what purpose that guidelines serve, different media organisations have their target audience, the guidelines are quite unreasonable, it is wrong”, he said.

The leadership of the National Assembly on Monday released 20 guidelines for journalists who intend to cover the ninth Assembly inauguration ceremony.

This development was contained in two separate letters addressed to the chairmen of Senate and House of Representatives Press Corps on Monday by the Director of Information, Agada Emmanuel.

The requirements were categorised under permanent and temporary accreditation and shall come into effect from June 11, 2019.

The prerequisites for the coverage of the activities of the National Assembly before the expiration of the present leadership was also aimed at reducing the number of journalists covering the legislative arm.

One of the letters on requirements for permanent accreditation stipulates: ”Evidence of a certificate of incorporation of the media organisation and evidence of membership of professional bodies for media organisations.”