The Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), has urged journalists in the country to create adequate discourse of issues on the constitutional amendment as it affects Nigerians before the 21 bills passed by the Senate and House of Representatives in this regard are transmitted to State Houses of Assembly for consideration.
PERL made the call on Wednesday at a Civil Society and Media Advocacy Technical Session on Constitutional Review in Nigeria’s capital Abuja.
In a remark John Mutu, a member of PERL team at the session enjoined Nigerian journalists to see their roles in providing platforms for healthy debate around the review ‘‘as a great service to Nigeria.”
On his part Dr. Otive Igbuzor, an acclaimed human rights and democracy activist noted that law and budget play vital roles in the development of a nation, hence the need for journalists to as a matter of priority embark on adequate sensitization of Nigerian citizens before state legislators commence work the areas lined up for review.
Besides, Honourable Ughanze Celestine, one time federal lawmaker in the House of Representatives, pointed out that there was nothing wrong in the immunity being sought for legislators in the course of their duties but to make Nigeria conform with global best practices.
The session was well attended by top media executives as well as high level representation from civil society organisations.
