THE Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria (NPAN) yesterday charged President Goodluck Jonathan to endorse the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill passed by the National Assembly, ahead of his May 29 inauguration to demonstrate his government's commitment to fighting corruption and impunity in the country.
Also, the NPAN has elected, Publisher, ThisDay Newspaper, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, as its new president.
Obaigbena succeeded Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, who recently stepped aside as chairman of Punch Newspaper.
The NPAN also elected the following to pilot its affairs: Deputy President, Malam Kabiru Yusuf; General Secretary, Comfort Obi; Assistant General Secretary, Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah; Treasurer, Mrs. Maiden Ibru; Publicity Secretary, Mr. Frank Aigbogun. While Mallam Ismaila Isa, Mr. Sam Amuka, Mr. Ray Ekpu and Mrs. Nwadiuto Iheakanwa, were all elected as ex-officio members of the NPAN board.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its yearly general meeting held at the body's secretariat in Lagos, NPAN said: "We, members of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria (NPAN), have hailed the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill by the National Assembly as a robust support for free speech and the public's right to know.
"The association commended the National Assembly for paving the way for Nigeria's entry into the club of democratic countries that cherish the free flow of information in order to improve transparency and good governance."
In an interview with reporters after the meeting, Obaigbena commended Ogunshola for giving great leadership to the organisation as NPAN president.
He promised that the new executive would continue in Ogunshola's positive footsteps by supporting free speech, ethical journalism and better welfare for journalists in Nigeria.
Obaigbena also pledged to fashion out a new road map for the association and urged members to support him in this regard.
Asked to expatiate on what he meant by better welfare for journalists, Obaigbena said: "We are working on a strategy to ensure that we are all winners."
The statement also stated that in his valedictory speech, Ogunshola highlighted the challenges NPAN currently faced and urged the members to rise to the occasion.
"The association gave him a standing ovation for his leadership," the communiqué stated.
The long awaited Freedom of Information bill (FOI) renamed the Right of Information Bill was first presented in 1999, was passed by the previous House of Representatives in 2004 and by the Senate in November 2006, but was not signed into law by then President Obasanjo before the change of government in 2007. In 2008, the bill was reintroduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives and it was finally passed into law on .........
Earlier this year, both Houses passed the bill, which needed to be harmonized. It was assumed then that President Goodluck Jonathan's signature on the bill would shortly follow. But when a Special Adviser on National Assembly, Mohammed Abba-Aji, told reporters that he would advise the President against signing the bill, the Presidency quickly distanced itself, insisting that the Bill will be assented to.
However, little has been reported on it since then.
Source: Newspaper owners pick Obaigbena as president, task Jonathan on FoI bill (http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49400:newspaper-owners-pick-obaigbena-as-president-task-jonathan-on-foi-bill&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)