….demands tax clearance, certificate of incorporation before accreditation
By Kemi Yesufu
Only newspaper with a daily circulation of 40,000 copies will now have reporters accredited to cover the National Assembly.
Before the issuance of the new regulationS, the last time the national Assembly renewed identity cards for reporters was in 2016.
The management of the National Assembly in a letter issued from the office of the Director of Information, Rawlings Agada Emmanuel, any print medium that wishes to have its correspondents accredited must also have a functional Bureau in Abuja (Staff Strength not less than 5 Editorial staff and must be printing daily.
The new accreditation guidelines comes into effect from June 11 2019, which is the day the 9th Assembly is to be inaugurated.
Furthermore, the media house concerned must tender “evidence of certificate of incorporation of the media organisation, Evidence of membership of professional bodies for media organization and Proof of membership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) with registration number (for the reporter).”
They must also possess the Code of certification from the National Library for the media organization,
Media Houses must be publishing daily and on weekend (Applicable to Online Media) as well.
The circular further states the Number of journalists/correspondents to be accredited for prints, electronic and online media for Senate and House of Representatives respectively as:
“Television – 1 Reporter and 1 Cameraman, Radio 1 Reporter, Independent Producers – 1 Reporter and 1 Camerama, and Online Media 1 Reporter and 1 Photographer
Similarly, accreditation is now divided into, Permanent Accreditation and Temporary Accreditation, Foreign/lnternational Media Houses and Freelance
” Re-certification form must be signed and endorsed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Media organization Bureau Chief, City Editor as the case may be.
“The Media organization concerned must have experience of covering proceedings of the National Assembly for at least two (2) years before applying for permanent accreditation. All media organization will submit a copy of its income tax return for the last two years.
“All online media must have at least 5000 viewership per day, the site must have been in operation for 5 years and provide satisfactory evidence to this effect with clippings of the news utilized (especially parliamentary news).
“Only television stations with national coverage and specific independent producers with current running programme on the National Assembly will be allowed access into the Chambers on a permanent basis (All the production crew will be accredited as entity).
” All correspondents must attach photocopy of letter of appointment of the media organization on whose behalf request has been received for grant of accreditation.
“All freelance journalist seeking permanent accreditation must show evidence of not less than 5 years coverage of the National Assembly proceedings/full editorial focus and publication on parliamentary reportage.
” It is only Journalists and correspondence whose media organisations meet the above requirements for Permanent accreditation that will be entitled to carry National Assembly Identity Card/Membership of the respective Press Corp
“All other media organization who do not meet the above requirement will be captured under the Temporary accreditation status and they will not be entitled to carry National Assembly Identity Card/Membership of the Press Corp of the Senate and House of Representatives.
“All Temporary accredited media houses, journalists/correspondents shall be allowed permit into the National Assembly for specific coverage not exceeding one (1) week in the first instance and not more than twice in a month.
“All foreign/international media houses seeking accreditation shall abide by all the Diplomatic Protocols established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for foreign media organizations, the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists and security clearance before accreditation will be considered upon the recommendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“All permanently accredited journalists/correspondents shall subrhit recertification letter from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of their media organization on a sessional basis failure to which accreditation shall be withdrawn forthwith.”
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