Senate President To Investigate New Guidelines For Journalists

Olu Onemola, the Special Assistant on New Media to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday revealed that the Senate will investigate the new guidelines for journalists at the National Assembly.

Onemola in his statement noted that the Senate President is committed to the freedom of the press.

He revealed this development in a series of tweets while reacting to the alleged new guidelines for journalists in the National Assembly.

He stated that Saraki as the Senate President has always believed in freedom of the press in order to promote transparency.

Naija News reports the new guidelines for covering National Assembly activities by newsmen are stringent and widely seen as a way of gagging press freedom.

Onemola claimed that the purported issuance of the controversial guidelines would be investigated.

“The attention of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has just been drawn to a story that is circulating on social media about the National Assembly issuing new guidelines to journalists.”

“These alleged guidelines have not emanated from either the Senate President or the Speaker and will be promptly investigated.”

“The public should note that the 8th National Assembly has been committed to the freedom of the press as exemplified by its work to bring governance closer to the people through live streams and live tweets.”

“This is because the leadership of the 8th National Assembly believes strongly in the freedom of the press and in carrying the Nigerian public along. Hence, the Senate President and all his colleagues will continue to work to ensure that these freedoms remain unhindered.”