The Senate has barred the Nigerian media from covering the budget defence as it insists that the media are not needed in the process.
This much was said by Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dayo Adeyeye in Abuja today.
His view follows the barring of the media from covering of the budget defence by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) a move instituted by the different Senatorial committees.
Senator Adeyey said sensitive issues cannot be discussed in the presence of journalists.
Journalists were not allowed to cover the budget defence of the following MDAs — Federal Inland Revenue Services, National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency, Ecology Department, Public Accounts Committee, Air Force, Petroleum Down stream, Diaspora and the Non Governmental Organisations, Primary Health care and the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Capital Territory and the Department of Local Content.,
Journalists were asked to take their exit after the Senate Committee on Public Accounts welcomed the Auditor-General of the Federation.
The move was also recorded during the defence of other Ministries.
The Senate’s Spokesperson, Adeyeye said it the presence of journalists will cause a distraction to the Senate.
“The budget defence will not be done in the direct presence of the media.
It will constitute a distraction when sensitive issues are being discussed.
Serious issues cannot be discussed openly like that. Like the nitty gritty of the budget cannot be discussed in the open.
“When President Buhari was preparing the budget, the media was not involved.
It was after the budget was ready that he read it at the joint session of the National Assembly.
So, it is when the budget defence is concluded that the media can be briefed on the account.
Crest of the Nigerian Senate
“The chairmen and members of the various committees can brief the media after deliberations and the media would be told what was discussed.
The budget defence should not be done in the full glare of the media.
“No. I don’t think so. This is like playing to the gallery,” he said.
Senator Sandy Onuh, a member of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity also corroborated the Senate Spokesman’s stance.
“In governance, there is the secrecy oath. If there is no secrecy, why is that law there, it ought to have been abrogated.
There is need for you to do your job without any distraction.”
Senator Adeyeye, however said it is not a reversal of the stance of the 9th Senate but a means to prevent distractions.
(C) Control TV 2019.
