By Teddy Nwanunobi
Abuja (Sundiata Post) — The Senate, on Monday, bowed to pressure, and recalled eight news television channels it had earlier suspended from coverage of its activities.
This was sequel to series of negotiations, after which the Red Chamber rescinded its earlier decision to bar the news television channels.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Aliyu Sabi, who disclosed this at a briefing, said the issues were mutually resolved for the benefit of the Senate, as an institution, and the journalists covering the National Assembly.
During the briefing, Sabi was accompanied with the Senate Clerk, Nelson Ayewoh; Director of Information, National Assembly, Dibal Adamu and Chairman of the Senate Press Corps, Emeka Cosmas Ekpunobi.
Led by Ekpunobi, the leadership of the Senate Press Corps thanked the Senate and its bureaucracy for the truce.
He commended journalists and cameramen for their resilience, while the issues were under negotiations.
With the new development, relations between journalists covering the Senate and Senate bureaucracy have now been fully restored.
It would be recalled that the broadcast journalists covering the Upper Chamber, last Thursday, boycotted the coverage of Senate proceedings over new sweeping measures by the Senate bureaucracy, which led to the reduction of news television channels that cover the Senate proceedings.
The controversy began when Ayewoh barred some television stations from coverage of the plenary proceedings based on allegations that the cameramen from such media are constituting themselves into a nuisance and disturbing Senate activities.
But journalists covering the National Assembly described the move as unacceptable.
They called for a press solidarity in rejecting the Senate’s decision, which came a day, after the celebration of World Press Freedom Day.
They also called for a return to the status quo.
Thirteen television stations had been accredited to gain entry into the chamber to cover plenaries, but the coverage was restricted to six television stations.
They included: Africa Independent Television, Nigerian Television Authority, Channels Television, Silverbird Television, Television Continental and the in-house New Age.
Ekpunobi, who confirmed the development, said the leadership of the Corps would work out an amicable solution to resolve the matter.