Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has ordered the leadership and management of the National Assembly to immediately withdraw the cruel media accreditation guidelines or face legal action.
The National Assembly leadership and management had in a letter issued the media accreditation guideline that would prevent journalists from covering the Ninth National Assembly.
Some
of the 20 conditions listed are evidence of incorporation of the media organization,
proof of membership of the NUJ with
registration number and the code of certification from the National Library of
Nigeria.
Reacting, SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said Nigerians
demand the leadership of the National Assembly to show a greater level of
transparency and accountability and to explain and take responsibility for what
they are doing rather than banning journalists from covering their public
functions.
Implementing the accreditation guidelines would allow the lawmakers to escape accountability for their constitutional functions.
The organization told the Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara to immediately withdraw the accreditation guidelines and allow Journalists to freely cover the activities of leadership and members of the National Assembly.
They, however, threatened to take national and international legal action if the unlawful guidelines are not withdrawn by Friday.
