Media kicks as Senate‎ bars TV crew from covering plenary

Twenty-four hours after the World Press Freedom Day, ‎the Senate on Thursday prevented television news crews (cameramen) covering its plenary.
The decision was enforced by the‎ Clerk of the Senate, Nelson Ayewoh, who reduced the number of te‎levision news crews (cameramen) covering the Senate plenary from 13 to six before the commencement of the session.
However, in statement issued by the Senate Press Corps,‎ signed by Cosmas Ekpunobi, addressed to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Abdulahi Sabi, he was asked to prevail on the Senate bureaucracy and Senate leadership to rescind this latest decision.
The statement reads in part: “We have been repeatedly told that there is no parliament in the world where cameramen are allowed into the chamber. But we are also aware that such chambers, as mentioned, have functional central pool units where professional and experienced broadcast cameramen using latest television technologies such as Ultra High Definition cameras operate to deliver quality feeds. And until such equipments are installed with the requisite broadcast professionals to man them, we plead for a stay of execution.
“We hereby appeal to you, to use your good office to prevail on the Senate bureaucracy and indeed the Senate leadership to rescind on this latest decision at least in the spirit of World Press Freedom Day.
“In the mean time, we see the development as very unhealthy and a recipe for avoidable friction between the media as a professional body and the National Assembly.”