Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged journalists covering the National Assembly to improve the standard of parliamentary journalism and ensure their reports meet the highest professional and factual standards. He made the call at the 2026 Capacity-Building Workshop organised by the Senate Press Corps. Akpabio emphasized the importance of accurate and responsible reporting, noting that the demands of legislative reporting require diligence, thoroughness, and careful verification.
Akpabio, represented by Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, stated that the theme of the workshop, “Leveraging Legislative Oversight and Media Collaboration to Safeguard the National Budget from Unlawful Insertions,” aligns with the principles of representative government. He stressed that the legislature has a duty to protect public resources, while the media must ensure that the public record is accurately presented.
The Senate President highlighted the need for parliamentary correspondents to exercise greater diligence in their reporting, warning that sensational claims could attract immediate attention, while corrections to inaccurate reports might receive far less public attention. He emphasized that Nigeria needs reporting strong enough to withstand scrutiny, adding that the public deserves facts that help them confront the country's challenges.
Akpabio also challenged journalists to expose institutional failures when necessary, while avoiding speculation and presenting unverified claims as established facts. He noted that exposing failure can be an act of service to the nation, as can resisting the temptation to present conjecture as fact. The Senate President emphasized the importance of patriotism in journalism, encouraging reporters to tell the truth about Nigeria and care about its well-being.
The workshop featured presentations by prominent speakers, including Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Director of BudgIT, Mr Oluseun Onigbinde; Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mallam Auwal Musa Rafsanjani; and Publisher of Eagle Times Newspaper, Mr Ikechukwu Chukwunyere. Their presentations focused on legislative oversight, budget transparency, media accountability, and collaboration among parliament, civil society, and the media.
The speakers emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in safeguarding public finances. They highlighted the importance of legislative oversight and media accountability in ensuring that public resources are protected and that the national budget is not subject to unlawful insertions. The workshop aimed to equip journalists with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively cover parliamentary activities and promote transparency.
The Senate President's call for improved parliamentary journalism standards is seen as a significant step towards promoting transparency and accountability in government. By emphasizing the importance of accurate and responsible reporting, Akpabio has underscored the critical role that the media plays in ensuring that public authority is exercised in the best interests of the Nigerian people.
Key points
- - Akpabio urges journalists to improve parliamentary journalism standards - The Senate President emphasizes the need for accurate and responsible reporting - The 2026 Capacity-Building Workshop aims to promote transparency and accountability in government
