By Naomi Joseph
The House of Representatives has said Nigeria’s legislative process is increasingly shaped by complex issues of digital governance, data protection, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, online safety and digital rights.
Spokesman of the House, Hon. Akin Rotimi, stated this at a one-day capacity-building retreat for parliamentary reporters and media teams, organised by the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs in partnership with Paradigm Initiative Nigeria.
Rotimi, who represents Ekiti North 1 (Ikole/Oye) federal constituency, said the emerging digital issues are central to democracy, accountability, economic development and the protection of fundamental freedoms.
According to him, the responsibility of interpreting these issues accurately and presenting them clearly to Nigerians rests largely on accredited journalists covering the National Assembly and the media teams supporting members and House leadership.
“Your work directly shapes public understanding of Parliament, public confidence in democratic institutions, and the quality of civic engagement in our country,” he said.
He added that the retreat demonstrated the committee’s deliberate commitment to professionalism, ethics, competence and institutional coherence in legislative communication.
“Our vision is clear: to position the Tenth Assembly as The People’s House, a Parliament that is trusted, responsive, and results-driven. Our mission is equally clear: to deliver timely, factual, and innovative public communication that strengthens institutional credibility and supports effective service delivery,” Rotimi said.
He noted that sessions on digital rights, the state of digital freedoms in Nigeria, legislative interpretation and practical simulations were designed to equip participants with practical skills for their daily work.
“We are grateful to Paradigm Initiative for supporting this process and for contributing technical depth to today’s engagements,” he said, adding that the retreat forms part of broader reforms being driven by the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs.
“Democracy functions best when citizens are well informed, when institutions communicate responsibly, and when the media ecosystem upholds professionalism and public interest,” Rotimi added.
In his remarks, Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Gboyega Onadiran, described the training as timely, noting that in the digital age, information travels faster than legislation.
“Journalism and legislative communication no longer operate solely through headlines and press statements. We now work within a digital ecosystem shaped by data, algorithms, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and online rights,” he said.
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