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Following the plethora of criticisms trailing the new Press Council Bill being sponsored by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson, House of Representatives committee on Diaspora, the lawmaker has called for the understanding of stakeholders over the proposed bill, saying there is no hidden agenda in it. Instead, she said it is meant to elevate the practice of journalism in Nigeria. The embattled Dabiri-Erewa, who spoke exclusively to BusinessDay, weekend said she stands to gain nothing by destroying the journalism profession that gave her fame. According to her, “The bill is pro-journalism. The bill is seeking for self regulation and aims at enhancing the profession and brings more credibility to the journalists. The press council as it is has not been allowed to perform because there have been too many cases in court. The present bill even addresses the insurance of journalists and we are saying that the profession should not be all comers’ affairs”. She regretted that most reactions were based on press releases by the president of the Guild of Editors which, she said, came out penultimate Monday, same day the public hearing on the bill was fixed. The House of Representatives member called for journalists’ suggestions, discussions and input into the bill which, she said, the Tony Momoh committee is reworking, and not to attack the person that sponsored the bill. “If the bill says that the president of the federation appoints the chairman of the Press Council, and we disagree with that, then what are the suggestions”, she noted.