A bill that will regulate the use of social media in Nigeria yesterday suffered a major setback as stakeholders, including Amnesty International, Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, and Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, asked the Senate to kill it without delay.
In an open meeting, the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC; International Press Centre, IPC, NUJ, Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD; DAAR Communication, Nigeria Communication Commission, NCC; Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON, individuals, among others, disapproved the bill.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele who organised the public hearing had earlier said there was no clapping of hands as one of the grand rules, but people still clapped in support of those who were not in support of the bill.
The CSOs also maintained that the bill was completely unnecessary, others noted that the bill would only serve the interest of a few at the detriment of the generality of the nation. The further stated that the bill will not only infringe on human rights but also violate human rights and freedom of speech because of the manner it was structured.
The bill, among others, seeks to prevent the transmission of false reports of facts in Nigeria and enable measures to be taken to counter the effects of such transmission. It also deals with the regulations guiding internet intermediaries and providers of mass media services.
On regulations, the bill stated that the Inspector General of Police shall make regulations necessary or convenient for carrying out or giving effect to the administration and enforcement of the Act.
According to the peddlers of the bill, the aim and objective of the bill are,
“To prevent transmission of false statement/declaration of facts in Nigeria and enable measures to be taken to counter the effects of such transmission.
“To suppress the financing, promote and other support of online locations that repeatedly transmit false statements/declaration of facts in Nigeria,” amongst others.
The penalty for non-compliance, according to the bill, “for individuals, is a fine not exceeding N200,000 or 12 months imprisonment or both, and in any other case, a fine not exceeding N5 million.
The Coordinator, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and Executive Director of PLAC, Mr. Clement Nwankwo in the meeting called for the jettisoning of the bill.
“The bill has huge ramifications that can threaten the fabric of Nigeria’s democracy and the achievements of its outlined fundamental objectives that are aided by the deployment of social media tools which facilitate citizen participation and engagement with their representatives in the 21st century,” he said.
Mr. Nwankwo, while speaking on behalf of the CSOs, highlighted that the bill, if passed into law, would be a threat to human rights, and urged the Senate to discountenance the bill.
The NUJ, although agreed that fake news was bad, it, however explained that there were other ways of regulating social media, including that further legislation on the bill should stopped. The NUJ also expressed that it will pidgeon-hole Nigerians from freely expressing themselves.
Christopher Isiguzo, who is NUJ’s National President, said the bill is worse than coronavirus, “We are totally opposed to this bill. We want to appeal to the sponsor to withdraw this bill. When the people are suppressed, it endangers democracy,” he said.
The NCC said the bill gave too much power to the Police and other security agencies.
The Executive Vice President of NCC, Mr. Umar Dambata, noted that certain provisions of the bill were difficult to implement, adding that these provisions had already been covered by other laws, maintaing that the bill had general drafting anomalies.
“It is our opinion that National Assembly will need a redraft, so that it can be aligned with existing legislative drafting,” he said.
Giving support to the bill, the Nigeria Army said even advanced democracies of the world still had a way of regulating the media.
The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, who was represented by Major General Solomon Udoma, said false information undermines leadership, destroy peace and threaten unity.
Head, Media and Public Affairs of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, Mr. Abdulrazaq Barkindo who represented the forum, said the position of governors was still being collated.
According to him, the governors will want to get input of legislators of their states before forwarding their position.
The Chairman of BON, Mr. Saad Ibrahim, said the bill appeared to be undefined, he emphasized that some parts should be deleted if it must be passed, he however, described the bill as unnecessary.
Represented by Samson Itodo, Yiaga Africa said it completely rejected the bill and aligned with other civil society groups that support its rejection.
He stated the bill would duplicate laws already in existence, adding that any attempt to regulate social media would infringe on the right of the people and advised that the Bill should be killed.
Raymond Dokpesi, Jr. the Chairman of DAAR Communication, said that his company opposed the bill and the bill should be trashed.
He said it was difficult to align the bill with public interest, adding that the bill attempted to take away the right of fair hearing and give monopoly to authorities or government establishments.
The Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, said the bill was not designed to protect Nigerians.
He said the Nigerian Constitution was outdated, adding that government should be thinking of amending it to meet the yearnings of the people.
On its part, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, which was represented by Dr Esa Onoja, said the agency was neither for nor against the bill, adding that as an endorsement agency, it was duty- bound to enforce any law passed.
Earlier in his remarks, sponsor of the bill and Chairman, Committee on Senate Services, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, All Progressives Congress, APC, Niger East, said the bill was not designed to muzzle the freedom of speech of Nigerians, he added that nobody would block the social media of any Nigerian, stating,
“The bill is not an attempt to stifle free speech or dissenting views; it is rather an opportunity to address a growing threat which, if left unchecked, can cause serious damage in our polity and disrupt peaceful coexistence.”
Declaring open the public hearing, President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, said the Senate has never assumed the position of knowing it all, adding that the public hearing was a crucial one because of the passion the bill has generated, he also stated that,
“Like every other innovation, it has had its positive and negative sides. While it has somewhat made communication easier, faster and even cheaper, it has also affected our ability to easily trust some information.
“When this kind of situation arises, we should interrogate all the sides in the divides on a continuous basis. Doing this will lead to a better understanding of the dimensions and provide an agreeable way forward.’
“I agree that matters of freedom of speech and the inalienable rights of man are issues we should not compromise. I also agree that the right of an individual ends where the rights of another individual begins.
“The Senate’s eventual position will be partly dependent on the committee’s report. Your support in enriching this report is, therefore, very important.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday called on Nigerians, including the media, organized civil society and all pro-democracy groups to unite against moves to pass the obnoxious
“Like every other innovation, it has had its positive and negative sides. While it has somewhat made communication easier, faster and even cheaper, it has also affected our ability to easily trust some information.
“When this kind of situation arises, we should interrogate all the sides in the divides on a continuous basis. Doing this will lead to a better understanding of the dimensions and provide an agreeable way forward.’
“I agree that matters of freedom of speech and the inalienable rights of man are issues we should not compromise. I also agree that the right of an individual ends where the rights of another individual begins.
“The Senate’s eventual position will be partly dependent on the committee’s report. Your support in enriching this report is, therefore, very important.”
Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday called on Nigerians, including the media, organized civil society and all pro-democracy groups to unite against moves to pass the obnoxious anti-social media bill at the National Assembly.
