… Says ECOWAS Court Ruling on Twitter
Under Investigation By AGF
By Williams Anuku Abuja
The controversies trailing the recent suspension of Twitter in Nigeria took another dimension on Wednesday as Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, distanced the presidency from the ongoing attempts at the National Assembly to amend the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) Act and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act.
Recall that there had been speculations that following the suspension of Twitter by the Nigerian Government, there has been some underground moves to muzzle the media through repeal of the Acts establishing the Nigerian Press Council and the National Broadcasting Commission respectively.
A move that has drawn condemnation from various stakeholders.
Adesina rose to the defence of the presidency while fielding questions from State House Correspondents after the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday.
According to him, the initiative is a federal government thing that only the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, was competent to address.
Asked to comment on the issue, he said: “That is not strictly a Presidency thing because the President has nothing to do with that. It’s a government thing and it’s the Minister that can talk about it. So, thank you.”
Asked to react to ECOWAS Court ruling against Nigeria for suspending the micro-blogging platform, Twitter, Adesina said, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is studying the ruling issued by the ECOWAS Court to the effect that Twitter users cannot be arrested or prosecuted.
He said the AGF would advise the federal government on the next step to take.
The Presidential Media Aide also affirmed that the committee made up of ministers to engage with Twitter has begun to meet.
“The Attorney-General of the Federation is going to study that report and then he’ll advise government on the way forward.
“The committee set up by the President to engage with Twitter is actually holding a meeting about now, or it will hold a meeting this afternoon (Wednesday) towards engaging with Twitter.”
Adesina equally disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved that the Second Peer Review Country Self-assessment Report should be done.
He said: “The only thing of interest I would like to talk about is the second Peer Review Country’s Self-assessment Report.
“Nigeria is ready for the second Peer Review Country Self -assessment Report to be done by AUDA-NEPAD. I think the last self-assessment report was done 10 years ago in Nigeria. Now, Nigeria is ready for the second review self-assessment report.
“It’s been discussed at the Council and the President has granted the approval that that peer review report can be conducted on Nigeria.
“Actually, if you have an insight into the report that was presented, which the woman in charge of NEPAD, Mrs. Akobundu, can give you, Nigeria has made progress in several areas and on several fronts.
“While 10 years ago, petroleum contributed more than 70%, even up to 90%, to GDP, you will find that today, petroleum contributes just about 45% and non-oil products contribute about 55% to the Nigerian economy.
“So, if Nigeria had been talking of diversification for 40, 50, 60 years, the economy can now be said to be diversified because our GDP, non-oil revenue, contributes about 55% to 45% of oil.
“So, it’s one of the highlights of the Peer Review Country Self-assessment Report that was presented at the Council meeting today. Details of that can be gotten from the AUDA-NEPAD office.
“That is the only thing we can talk about FEC today. if there’s any question, then I’ll gladly take. Yes. Yes, thank you.”
The meeting which held at the conference hall of the First Lady’s office, State House, Abuja, has Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari in attendance.
Also in attendance were Ministers of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; Finance Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Defence, retired Bashir Magashi; Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige as well as Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami.
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan and other Ministers attended virtually from their various offices in Abuja.
