Akintonde Rotimi, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Publicity, said Nigeria’s legislative process is increasingly being shaped by emerging issues such as digital governance, data protection, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, online safety and digital rights.
The House Spokesperson stated this at a one-day capacity building training camp for parliamentary reporters and media teams organized by the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs in collaboration with Paradigm Initiatives Nigeria.
Rotimi, who represents Ekiti North 1 (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency, said the evolution of the digital environment has placed new demands on legislation, with far-reaching implications for democracy, accountability, economic development and the protection of fundamental freedoms.
According to him, the responsibility to accurately interpret and clearly communicate these complex issues to Nigerians rests primarily with the accredited journalists covering the National Assembly and the media teams supporting MPs and the House leadership.
“Your work directly shapes the public’s understanding of Congress, the public’s trust in our democratic institutions, and the quality of citizen participation in our country,” he said.
He noted that the training camp reflects the Commission’s deliberate commitment to professionalism, ethical standards, competency, and institutional consistency in legislative communication.
“Our vision is clear: to position the 10th Parliament as a House of the People – a trusted, responsive and results-driven parliament. Our mission is equally clear: to provide timely, fact-based and innovative public communication, strengthen institutional credibility and support effective service delivery,” Rotimi said.
The lawmaker explained that the sessions on digital copyright, the current state of digital freedom in Nigeria, legal interpretation and practical simulations were designed to equip participants with practical skills relevant to their day-to-day work.
“We would like to thank the Paradigm Initiative for supporting this process and providing technical depth to today’s efforts,” he added, explaining that the withdrawal is part of broader reforms being pushed by the House Media and Public Affairs Committee.
“Democracy works best when the public is well-informed, institutions communicate responsibly, and the media ecosystem protects professionalism and the public interest,” Rotimi said.
In his remarks, Chairman of the House of Commons Press Corps Gboyega Onadiran said the exercise was timely, noting that in the digital age, information travels faster than legislation.
“Journalism and legislative communications 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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