The Director-General (DG) Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu has blasted the National Assembly over its new guidelines for the accreditation of media organizations, Journalists/Correspondents covering activities of the legislature.
In a statement made available to DAILY POST in the State, Dr Edu lamented over the guidelines, explaining that it was aimed at gagging the press.
“Media is the third arm of Government and should not be censored. If the National Assembly creates guidelines that seek to suppress, censor or negatively reduce the freedom of information from its chambers, then the ability to hold National Assembly and our leaders accountable becomes limited.
She recalled that it was that same National Assembly that passed the freedom of information bill, and as such must stand by it.
“Constructive criticism is important for balance and to hold our leaders in the National Assembly accountable. We need to know what is going on there uncensored.
“We need to critically analyze issues and make useful contributions and the only way to do that is through the information we get from different journalists at the assembly who write from various angles. That should not be compromised for any reason,” she stated.
