As the world moves towards digitalisation, the House of Representatives has called on journalists and media aides to build stronger expertise in scrutinising digital and technology laws while carrying out their duties.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Akintunde Rotimi, made the call on Monday during a one-day joint retreat for parliamentary correspondents in Abuja.
The event, organised in partnership with civil society group Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, stressed the importance of technically informed reporting on complex issues such as data protection, cybercrime, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Hon. Rotimi emphasised the House’s commitment to protecting citizens’ digital rights through robust legislation. “Democracy thrives when citizens are well informed,” he said. “Clear, reliable information fosters public engagement and accountability.”
He called on journalists and parliamentary media teams to cover these laws with balance and depth, helping Nigerians to grasp their real-world impacts.
Paradigm Initiative Nigeria’s Executive Director, Mr Gbenga Sesan, linked Nigeria’s trillion-dollar economy goal to strong digital security and governance.
He urged the National Assembly to fast-track priority bills, including the Nigeria Data Protection Act, Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Bills, Digital Rights and Freedom Bill, National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill, amendments to the Cybercrimes Act, and the Child Online Access Protection Bill.
The Chairman of the House Press Corps, Gboyega Onadiran, noted that journalists must adapt to a landscape driven by data, algorithms, AI, cybersecurity, and online rights. He affirmed that the Corps remains committed to making parliamentary work clear, accessible, and relevant to all Nigerians.
The event was attended by the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Grace Ike, and the Chief Executive Officer of the NASs Library Trust Fund, Hon. Henry Nwawuba, who charged participants to see the training as an opportunity to improve their skills in legislative reporting and digital rights.
Participants also expressed satisfaction with the training, describing it as a step in the right direction.