A similar action was taken in 2017 under the Bukola Saraki Senate Presidency when the number of cameramen and photojournalists covering the Senate was reduced from approximately 40 to 13.
The Senate has barred at least 10 television stations in the country from covering its plenary proceedings in the chamber, reducing the number of accredited TV stations to 7.
The number of authorised TV stations has dropped to seven after the Senate forbade at least ten national networks from covering its plenary sessions.
A Sergeant-at-Arm agent stationed at the Chamber’s entrance informed reporters that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had given the security team instructions to limit and reduce the number of media outlets reporting on the proceedings.
The media outlets now authorised to cover the plenary proceeding have been limited to seven, according to a document that was read openly at the entrance to the hallowed room.
This came after a circular signed by the Senate Clerk, Chinedu Akubueze on Tuesday.
Those accredited include; Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Channels Television, African Independent Television (AIT), Television Continental (TVC), Arise News, Newage and ADBN.
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To resolve concerns about covering the Senate’s proceedings in the chamber, the Press Corps leadership met with the Clerk of the Senate last Wednesday.
It was, therefore, astonished by the Senate’s decision to prevent certain TV stations from covering its plenary sessions.
OrderPaper recalls that a similar action had been taken in 2017 under the Bukola Saraki Senate Presidency when the number of cameramen and photojournalists covering the Senate was reduced from approximately 40 to 13.
