Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, has proposed a bill to mandate bloggers to have a physical office verifiable in any of the capital cities across the country.
Speaking during the plenary session on Tuesday, Senator Nwoko said the bill is not an attack but it is for equity and fairness.
“This bill mandates all bloggers operating in Nigeria to have physical office verifiable in the capital cities across the country. They must keep proper records of employees and belong to an organized national body, which shall have its headquarters in Abuja.
“We cannot continue to have a situation where individuals operate anonymously and publish news stories which is mostly false without any structure of accountability. Just like traditional media, bloggers should be properly registered and regulated to ensure professionalism, transparency and responsibility in their operation.”
He urged the Senate to support the passage of the bill as it is a bold step to ensure that the Nigerian digital space is not only vibrant but also fair and just for all stakeholders.
In his contribution, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated that bloggers are totally different from traditional media as they can publish right from their bedroom, aboard a flight or anywhere, and that’s why it is blogging.
He, however, stated that the bill would go for a second reading and, subsequently, a public hearing to hear the opinions of people on the bill.
“I’m very certain that by the time it comes back to us for possible passage to law, it would have been different and much more streamlined. At least the general idea, his job was to provide the principles,” he concluded.
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