The Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has advised the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos Council to sanction perpetrators of fake news.
Obasa gave the advice during a courtesy visit to his office by the executive members of the state council of NUJ in Lagos on Tuesday.
He stressed the need to find a lasting solution to the problem of dissemination of fake news.
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He suggested sanctions against perpetrators of fake news to serve as a deterrent to others.
“Journalists have a role to play in sustaining the achievements of the founders of the great profession,” the speaker added.
Obasa urged the union to come up with a structure that will surmount the challenges of fake news.
The speaker noted that some social media platforms were being wrongly used in suppressing through fake news.
Obasa gave an assurance that the Assembly would partner with NUJ on training and other areas to improve on professionalism.
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He pledged legislative processes that would enhance journalism profession.
The Chairman of NUJ Lagos Council, Mr Adeleye Ajayi, gave an assurance of looking into the issues raised holistically, with a view to finding lasting solutions to the menace of fake news.
Ajayi noted that the leadership of the union was making efforts to restore sanity to the profession.
He also appealed that the legislature should move for extension of retirement age of journalists to 65 years in line with what was done to academic circle.
Ajayi commended the speaker for the excellent oversight functions of the Assembly and quick passage of the Lagos State Appropriation bill.
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He lauded the giant strides of the speaker in presiding over an Assembly that catered for the interests of more than 20 million residents of the state.
