In a move that has raised concerns about Press freedom in Nigeria, Federal lawmakers in the Senate are currently holding plenary session on Tuesday, without allowing Journalists to access the chamber.
Despite a few Journalists that managed to gain entry into the National Assembly complex, they have been barred from monitoring the day’s proceedings.
The Sergeant-at-Arms had refused to open the doors to the gallery, denying reporters access to the plenary sitting.
Efforts to resolve the issue through calls to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, and the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Sylvester Okonkwo, had proven unsuccessful.
This incident marks a repeat of previous instances where the Senate had restricted Journalists’ access to its proceedings, sparking concerns about transparency and accountability in the upper legislative chamber.
This is on a day, Senate on its Order Paper scheduled to pass for first reading, six bills , including one seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution and deliberate on three other bills as well as motions on matters of urgent national importance.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
