National Assembly Revisiting The Cybercrime Act In A Bid To Regulate Online Media

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has disclosed plans by the National Assembly to work towards the regulation of the online media in the country.

He made the disclosure in a goodwill message delivered at the formal launch of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos.

Dogara represented by Hon. Abdulrazak Namdzi, acknowledged that online newspapers have been of immense benefit to lawmakers, as they have helped to bridge the gap between them and their constituencies.

He said for lawmakers to reach their constituencies now is just a click away on the telephone or computer.

The Speaker also said: “People now know they are being watched. And since part of the 8th legislative agenda is to fight corruption and with the realisation that you cannot do it without the media, it is imperative for the House to work with online publishers.”

He lamented that online journalism has become an all-comers’ affair and is being misused by many. “We believe that there is need to regulate the online media, to separate the wheat from the chaff,” he said.

The House Speaker spoke of the need to take a second look at the controversial Cybercrime Act hurriedly passed by the 7th Assembly and under which several bloggers have been arrested and charged to court.