BEVERLY HILLS, November 03, (THEWILL) – The Northern Governors Forum, NGF has expressed support for proposals to regulate the social media to check the spread of fake news in the country.
The Forum made this known on Monday in a communiqué issued by the Chairman and Governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong at the end of its meeting in Kaduna
The meeting took note of the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news and 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.
“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”, the communiqué said.
The Forum appreciated the roles traditional rulers played in containing the #EndSARS 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 actions of some #EndSARS protesters and endorsed “the indivisibility, indissolubility and oneness of the nation.
The Governors 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 resume their studies. They also appreciated the roles of religious groups, JNI and CAN, for their positive interventions in resolving the #EndSARS conflicts.
The Forum set up two committees to push for statutory roles for traditional rulers and engagement with youths and civil society organizations.
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 representatives 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.
The meeting was attended by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, among other dignitaries.
