SPEAKER, CROSS RIVER HOUSE’ ASSEMBLY PLEDGES TO WORK WITH ASSOCIATION OF CROSS RIVER ONLINE JOURNALISTS

The Association of Cross River Online Journalists - ACROJ has been commended for its stride in telling the Cross River State narrative, thereby bridging the gap using modern tools.

The commendation was made by the Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. John Gaul Lebo when he received a delegation of the association led by the Chairman Mr. Iwara Iwara in his office yesterday in Calabar.

Lebo who described online journalism as "a catalyst that nobody can avoid" pledged that the 8th Assembly will study and come out with enabling legislations to support the growth and practice of the association's proposed Institute of Online Journalism.

Gaul, the member representing Abi State constituency in the Assembly disclosed that a private member bill seeking the creation of the Cross River State New Media Company Limited, CRSNMC which will sort for and provide funds for media development is currently been discussed in the house for according to him Online journalism is a bridge to the future.

The Speaker asserted that there are certain ideas and technology that will revolutionize the way government will operate if the right legal frame work is in place. Describing the media as a tool which aids legislators manage the expectations of their constituents, the second time member in the house stressed that the Assembly led by him is and will remain press friendly which is evident in the creation of a new media department.

He also lampooned the rationale behind state creations which seemingly was to share revenue and posited there was urgent need to re-imagine Cross River State now that there is little coming in as a result of dwindling revenues”.

He promised that the current administration is poised in driving the state forward by every possible means for the people, maintaining that what is obtainable now is liberal democracy and the guarantee of rights is no longer an issue as we move into a liberal democracy, he ended.

Earlier, Iwara Iwara Chairman of ACROJ in his speech urged the 8th Assembly to look into the 2.4billion Naira guaranteed by the state for the Calabar Media City which the Speaker said the House Committee on Information, Communication and Technology will look into it.

Iwara who commended the Speaker for re-organizing the Assembly's media unit and making the house open to what he termed a critical press appealed the assembly "to consider an enabling law that will provide a grant or subvention to empower registered and existing online media platforms struggling to tell the Cross River narrative”.

Furthermore, he lauded the support shown by the Assembly to the administration of Governor Benedict Ayade by enacting the Cross River State Infrastructure Fund Law 2015 to give him the locus standee to source for funds for developmental projects which includes the signature projects.

The Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of CrossRiverWatch Agba Jalingo in a vote of thanks assured the Speaker of the continuous support of online journalists if they remain in the side of Cross Riverians and appreciated the attention given the association by the 8th Assembly, as it was not obtainable in the past stressing the act “will define your tenure as speaker

By

Archibong Jeremiah, / Jonathan Ugbal- Calabar