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Lagos — A civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has petitioned Commissioner Pansy Tlakula, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights in Banjul, The Gambia, asking her to "urgently intervene to stop the Nigerian government from instigating the passage of a bill in the National Assembly, which aims to undermine the internationally recognised right to freedom of expression and press freedom in the country."

Among others, the new Bill, which is now before the National Assembly, requires members of the Nigerian Press and Practice of Journalism Council to swear to an oath of secrecy.

The bill also requires the licensing of journalists and the pre-qualification examinations. It provides for the appointment of a chairman, who will be appointed and dismissed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister of Information and Communi-cations, a political appointee of the President.