The Nigerian Senate has barred at least 10 television stations and over a dozen photojournalists from covering its plenary.
It is reported that the in-house security operatives, the National Assembly Sergeant-At-Arms, carried out the order on Tuesday in what they describe as a move to maintain order on the floor of the newly renovated Senate chamber.
It was gathered that a Sergeant-At-Arm operative who was stationed at the entrance of the Chamber told journalists that Senate President, Godswill Akpabio “instructed the security unit to restrict and prune down the number of media houses covering proceedings”.
A document which was signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze pasted at the entrance to the hallowed chamber listed only seven media houses that would cover proceedings.
Those accredited include the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Channels, African Independent Television (AIT), Television Continental (TVC), Arise News, Newage and ADBN.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Press Corps had, on Wednesday last week, met with the Clerk of the Senate to harmonise issues relating to covering its proceedings in the chamber.
Journalists who report to the National Assembly have now expressed shock at the action of the Senate, which proceeded to bar some TV stations from covering its plenary sessions while dialogue on the matter was still ongoing.
