By Haruna Salami
The Chairman Senate committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Godiya Akwashiki has debunked the statement allegedly credited to President Muhammadu Buhari that the National Assembly was given N1 trn in the last 10 years for constituency project with nothing to show for it.
When asked the question by journalists at the National Assembly, Abuja, Akwashiki said “press can be funny sometimes” because it is possible President Binaries was misquoted.
According to him, the President is yet to write to the National Assembly that this happened. “Quote me, the press can be funny sometimes. May be what we are reading is not the way Mr. President said it, and he has not written to National Assembly to say this or that. So, there is no cause for alarm or for anybody to disturb himself”.
Senator Akwashiki said there was no cause for alarm over a bill for an Act to make provisions for the protection from internet falsehood and manipulations bill 2019, otherwise called the social media regulation bill which passed second reading Wednesday.
He said the bill is “just to regulate the activities of social media, people that are interested in posting things and to make sure you don’t post things that will harm your neighbour, adding that it is not targeted at New Media.
“Even if it is targeted at New Media, you have the opportunity to speak for or against it during public hearing”.
The Senate spokesman also took time to enumerate some of bills that have passed first and second reading in the last one week in the Senate.
Some of the bills include Whistle blower and witness protection bill 2019 (SB 125), Unclaimed fund legislative bill 2019 (SB 168), Federal Medical Centre Rigasa, Kaduna state bill 2019 (SB 163), Electoral Act Cap EC LFN 2004 Amendment Bill, 2019 (SB 176).
Others are Electoral Act No.6 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (SB. 179, Police Act CAP P19 LFN2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2019 (SB 181), Investment and Security Act CAP 124 LFN 2004 (Amendment Bill, 2019 (SB. 183)