*Speaks on FG’s dialogue with Twitter 

By Obajemu Owonikoko

Inundated by barrage of criticisms over spirited attempts to amend the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) Act and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act, the Presidency has distanced itself from the move described by stakeholders as attempt to muzzle the media.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, told journalists on Wednesday at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meting that only the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, can address state the dimensions.

He stated that it is so because the initiative is that of the federal government, and not of just the Presidency.  

Adesina explained that the on-going amendments which has been condemned as “draconian and authoritarian is not strictly a Presidency thing because the President has nothing to do with that. 

“It’s a federal government thing and it’s the Minister that can talk about it”.

Asked to react to the ECOWAS Court ruling against Nigeria for suspending  the micro-blogging platform, Twitter, Adesina said, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Alhaji Abubakar Malami, is studying the ruling by the court and would advise the federal government on the next step to take. 

The Presidential Spokesperson stated: “The Attorney-General of the Federation is going to study that report and then he’ll advise government on the way forward. 

“The committee set up by the President to engage with Twitter is actually holding a meeting about now, or it will hold a meeting this afternoon (Wednesday) towards engaging with Twitter.”