Fake News: Northern Governors Back Regulation Of Social Media

The Northern Governors Forum on Monday expressed support for the ongoing efforts to regulate the social media in order to check the spread of fake news in the country.

Vanguard reports that the Forum expressed its support in a communique issued by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau, Mr Simon Lalong, after its meeting in Kaduna with traditional rulers and other key stakeholders in the region.

The meeting, which took note of the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news, called for major control mechanisms and censorship of social media practice in Nigeria.

It also expressed support for the reform of the police to strengthen their capacity.

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“Forum appreciates the major reforms going on in the Police Force and pledges to support Mr President on this course.

“The meeting resolves to support the Nigerian Police Force to serve the country better and calls for the strengthening of trust between the people and the Police,” it said.

The Forum set up two committees to push for statutory roles for traditional rulers and engagement with youths and civil society organisations.

The Committee on Roles of Traditional Rulers is headed by the Emir of Lafia, Sidi Bage, with two representatives from the National Assembly and a minister as members.

The Committee on Youth and Civil Society Organisations has the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Bamalli, as Chairman

The forum has a representative of elders, youths, women and persons with disability as members from each of the three zones.

Others are representatives of Muslim and Christian clerics, business community and police.

“These engagement committees are to commence work immediately,” it said.

It appreciated the roles traditional rulers played in containing the #End SARS protests in the region and collectively agreed that traditional rulers be given formal roles in the governance architecture of the country.

The meeting rejected and condemned the subversive acțions of some #EndSARS protesters and endorsed “the indivisibility, indissolubility and oneness of the nation.”

It commended the National Assembly and the Presidency for being proactive in addressing the issues of protests across the country.

The governors also called for an amicable resolution of the ASUU strike to enable students to resume their studies.

The forum agreed to hold the meeting regularly and expand it to involve other critical stakeholders such as religious leaders, the business community and youths leaders.

It appreciated the roles of religious groups, JNI and CAN, for their positive interventions in resolving the #EndSARS conflicts.

The forum called for collective efforts in addressing the lingering challenges of the region, such as Almajiri system, insecurity, illiteracy and poverty.

The forum also appreciated the youths in curtailing the spread of hooliganism, thuggery and other separatist tendencies during the #EndSARS protest.

“The meeting expressed concern over the low-level involvement of relevant of stakeholders in the implementation programmes of government and calls on the relevant agencies to review implementation strategies to make for maximum impact and benefits,” it said.

The meeting was attended by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawal, and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, among other dignitaries.