The 10th Senate has passed the Chartered Out-of-Home Media Practitioners of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2026, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at establishing a regulatory body for practitioners in Nigeria’s home media industry.
The Bill, sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia-South), was passed after lawmakers considered and adopted the report of the Joint Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters, Information and National Orientation, and Media and Public Affairs.
The proposed legislation seeks to regulate the practice of home media, promote professionalism within the sector, and provide a comprehensive legal framework for the country’s outdoor advertising industry.
Presenting the committee’s report during plenary, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, described the Bill as timely, well-conceived, and in the national interest. He noted that the joint committees thoroughly examined the Bill and consulted relevant stakeholders before recommending its passage.
Following the presentation, the Senate dissolved into the Committee-of-the-Whole to consider the report clause-by-clause before passing the Bill through a voice vote.
Speaking after its passage, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the legislation would help instill professionalism and discipline in the media space, while cautioning against the spread of unverified information. “This will bring sanity and order for those who practice journalism even in their homes. Because some breaking news can break the country, and even some homes”, Akpabio said.
He commended senators for supporting the Bill, expressing optimism that the legislation would strengthen professional standards in the industry and contribute to national development.
If signed into law by the President, the Bill will establish the ‘Chartered Out-of-Home Media Practitioners of Nigeria’ as the statutory body responsible for regulating professional practice, setting standards, and enhancing accountability within Nigeria’s out-of-home advertising sector.
