Wednesday, 1 February 2017

Bayelsa House of Assembly sits in camera, shuts out journalists


The Bayelsa House Assembly contrary to  public expectations  on Tuesday sat behind closed door as journalists were barred from coverage of proceedings in Yenagoa, contrary to parliamentary best practices.





The 24-member legislature was scheduled to sit by 10.30 a.m, but the session commenced at about 11 a.m.

Before the sitting could commence, more than 20 reporters from different media organisations who were awaiting coverage were urged to leave the press gallery.

Mr Alton Boleidgha, Special Adviser on Media to Mr Kombowei Benson, Speaker of the House, who delivered the message to reporters, said the decision to bar journalists from coverage was from members.

“Well, I cannot ascertain what could be the matter for journalists not to cover sitting of today, but this is an order; I am telling you that we do not need any outsider for coverage.

“You have to leave the gallery because there is no need waiting to cover the sitting, we do not need journalists,” the media aide advised.

Reacting to the development, the aggrieved journalists expressed displeasure over the action of the lawmakers.


“I am not happy, though I do not know what they want to discuss that they don’t want us for today,” a journalist complained.

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