The Northern Governors Forum, pledged their support towards the effort by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to regulate the use of social media in order to checkmate the spread of fake news. The administration has made regulating social media its priority, blaming the social media for the spread of ‘fake news’ which it says can destroy the country if left unchecked. The forum expressed its support in a communiqué issued by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau, Mr Simon Lalong, on Monday after its meeting in Kaduna with traditional rulers and other key stakeholders in the region. The NGF members, who noted the devastating effect of the uncontrolled use social media in spreading fake news, called for major control mechanisms and censorship of the social media practice in Nigeria.
“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 has also set up two committees to push for statutory roles of traditional rulers and engagement with youth and civil society organisations.
The Committee on Roles of Traditional Rulers is spearheaded 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 is being headed by the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Bamalli. 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 the police.
Critics of the move by the government however said the government is simply trying to stifle critical and dissenting voices.
The government has, however, insisted it is determined to regulate social media and has been appealing to majority of Nigerians to support its move.
The forum also expressed support for the reform of the police to strengthen their capacity.
