GROUP DEMANDS DECLARATION OF ABA NORTH ASSEMBLY SEAT VACANT, THREATENS PROTEST. (PHOTO).

Image
 Group demands declaration of Aba North Assembly seat vacant, threatens protest A group known as the Coalition of Aba North Ethnic Youth Groups has mandated the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emereuwa to declare the Aba North seat vacant in seven days. The Aba North seat has been a subject of controversy since November 27, 2023, when the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos sacked Destiny Nwagwu of LP and declared Aaron Uzodike of the PDP, the duly elected member to represent Aba North. However, the seat has remained unoccupied since November 2023, as Uzodike of PDP has not been inaugurated by the Speaker, despite his several appeals. A fresh controversy erupted Friday, as the Coalition of Aba North Ethnic Youths Groups, asked the Speaker to declare the seat vacant within seven days or expect a city-wide protest in Aba. A protest letter signed by the leader of the group, Uka Matthew and some other members in Aba, said they have been without a representative in the Abia S

TINUBU’S GOVT SENDS NEW BILL TO REGULATE SOCIAL MEDIA TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, SAYS "IT'S A MONSTER".(PHOTO).


Tinubu’s Govt Sends New Bill To Regulate Social Media To National Assembly, Says “It’s A Monster”

October 11, 2023

The President Bola Tinubu-led federal government is proposing new social media regulations in a fresh bill sent to the National Assembly.

According to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the bill is seeking to repeal and reenact the NBC act, CAP L11 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.

Speaking when he hosted Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, at the commission’s headquarters on Tuesday, Balarabe Ilelah, NBC director-general, described the ills of social media as a “monster”.

Ilelah said the current law does not give the NBC the right to regulate social media.

He said: “We want to tell you that a bill for an act to repeal and amend the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) act, CAP L11 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004, to accommodate the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting service, also to promote quality audio and video, efficient management of the spectrum, Nigeria Broadcast Institute, social media regulation and related matters has been read for the first time on the floor of the national assembly,” the DG said.

“All these that are mentioned are not captured in the present act of the commission. We have already submitted a bill to amend the act.

“One of our major problems now is social media. Unless there is a law that allows NBC to act on social media issues, the issue will continue to be a monster in our daily lives in this country.”

Ilelah said the commission has the right to punish any broadcaster in line with the act establishing NBC.

“We have powers, we derive our powers from the act, and we have the powers to sanction stations. We don’t want to sanction, we prefer to bring them together for negotiation, for understanding,” he said.

“We only apply sanctions when there is no way out of it. We don’t want the stations or the stakeholders to see NBC as an enemy. If you mention NBC anywhere, the first impression is sanctions.

“In 2023, a total of 1,238 warnings were given, while during the same year, six different stations were penalised.”

On his part, the information minister said the NBC should work with the media so they do not see the commission as “punitive”.

Thereafter, the minister took a tour of the facilities of the commission.

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

ACTOR BABA IJESHA APPEALS FIVE-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT. (PHOTO).

INNOSON GIVES OUT BRAND NEW IVM G5 AND SALARY FOR LIFE TO THE MAN WHO PROPHESIED ABOUT HIS VEHICLE MANUFACTURING IN 1979.(PHOTO).

PUNISH MY ABUSERS WITHIN 48 HOURS OR FACE LAWSUIT- STUDENT BULLIED BY HER CLASSMATES THREATEN SCHOOL AUTHORITIES. (PHOTO).