Senate Plans Law For Insurance Cover For Journalists

MAKURDI, BENUE April 16, (THEWILL) - The Senate is planning a legislation to provide compulsory provision of a comprehensive insurance cover for media practitioners in the country.

Senate President David Mark who disclosed this at a retreat organized by the Senate Press Corp in Makurdi Benue State capital also advocated the inclusion of a clause to criminalize libel in the Freedom of Information Bill still pending in the National Assembly.

Mark said Senate is committed to the passage of the proposed Media Practitioners’ Welfare and Insurance law before the expiration of the tenure of the current National Assembly by June 2011.

According to him, the law when passed will make it compulsory for media house owners to make provisions for enhanced welfare and insurance cover for their staffers especially journalists.

He said Journalists work under very hazardous circumstances and as such need a comprehensive insurance.

According to him, "we need a law to protect media practitioners by providing for a comprehensive insurance cover for practicing journalists and I think this is one of the laws we need to pass before the end of the tenure of the present National Assembly."

Mark who assured that the Senate was working hard to ensure the passage of the Freedom of Information bill urged the media to ensure responsible management of information adding that a clause must be included to criminalize libel to ensure sanity in the system.

In his words, "freedom must come with a level of responsibility. So libel must be criminalized so that the media will not just publish anything unless they are very sure about the issue."

 He said the Freedom of Information bill is for the interest of the nation adding that the Senate is committed to passing it before the end of the current legislature.