By Aaron Ossai
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has urged the media to place national interest, evidence and sound judgment above partisan considerations in reporting legislation and public policies.
Hon. Abbas who spoke through the House Spokesperson, Hon. Akin Rotimi Jn at the annual lecture organised by the House of Representatives Press Corps, said bills and government policies should not be judged based on the political party, individual or region associated with them.
He called on journalists to critically examine proposed laws and policies based on their principles, provisions and likely impact on Nigerians.
The Speaker said the media had a crucial role to play in strengthening democracy by holding Parliament accountable while also providing the public with accurate and contextual information about legislative activities.
According to him, a healthy democracy requires a Parliament capable of explaining and defending its decisions, as well as a press that can question public officials “without fear or favour.”
He said the House leadership welcomed fair and difficult criticism, adding that disagreements between the legislature and the media should be resolved through engagement, explanation and correction where necessary.
He said, “Legislation should not be judged merely by the political circumstances in which it originates. Nor should public policy be assessed simply according to who proposes it, which party supports it, or which section of the country perceives itself to be in favour of it.”
“The media and the press have a duty to steer critical conversations about national progress away from partisan considerations.
“Bills deserve examination of their principles, their provisions and their likely consequences. An oversight intervention, for example, should be judged by whether it advances transparency, accountability and the public interest”, he added.
Abbas described such considerations as fundamentally intellectual rather than political questions, urging both lawmakers and journalists to approach public policy through “intellect, evidence, independent opinion and sound judgment.”
He stressed that while politics remained inseparable from parliamentary activities, political differences should be expressed and resolved through constitutional means.
The Speaker also urged Nigerians, including journalists, not to equate patriotism with unquestioning support for government policies.
“To love one’s country is not to suspend one’s capacity for critical thought,” he said, adding that genuine patriotism required citizens to ask whether policies worked, whether laws were fit for purpose and whether public resources were being deployed in the national interest.
