The media censorship bill, called “Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions
and Other Related Matters” would have individuals jailed for two years
if they publish a petition without a sworn affidavit or if what they
wrote was deemed “false.” This includes any dissemination of information
through SMS, Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter, other kinds of social media,
or through publication.
Massive demonstrations are planned in outside the
National Assembly tomorrow in Abuja, FCT to push against the recent
media censorship bill currently under Senate review. A second reading of
the bill took place last week on December 3rd to the outrage of
Nigerians on Twitter and social media. Senator Ibn Na’Allah of Kebbi
South has sponsored the bill, which was first read on November 24th,
according to reports.
Some Tweets include:
Join us as we #MarchOnNASS to say #NoToSocialMediaBill on Tuesday 8am at Unity Fountain Abuja
Dress code is black on black
YusuF HassaN
The bill is silly & shouldn't be allow to see the light of the day.Its even more worrying this was allowed to get to the senate #MarchOnNASS
Senator Dino Melaye, who once masqueraded himself as an
anticorruption activist, is one of the leading supporters of the media
censorship bill. Mr. Melaye delivered a tirade on the Senate floor last
week telling fellow Senators and the media that social media could “drag
democracy into crisis.” SaharaReporters factored significantly into Mr.
Melaye’s remarks, at one point he stated it was “an instrument of
satanic manifestation” and that its activities are “becoming
outrageously calamitous.”Since his remarks, SaharaReporters revealed that Mr. Melaye operates foreign bank accounts in the US in direct violation to the Code of Conduct Bureau rules and policies.
President Buhari, through his spokesman Garba Shehu, issued a statement today saying that “the President won’t assent to any legislation that may be inconsistent with the constitution of Nigeria.” The statement also acknowledged “the public hostility towards the social media bill now being debated by the Senate.”
Examples of #MarchOnNASS banners have already been shared on social media, many depicting images of Nigerians being gagged from speaking out against corruption and injustice.
The media censorship bill, called “Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and Other Related Matters” would have individuals jailed for two years if they publish a petition without a sworn affidavit or if what they wrote was deemed “false.” This includes any dissemination of information through SMS, Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter, other kinds of social media, or through publication.
The media censorship bill passed second reading in the Senate and has moved to Committee for debate. It has been reported that the bill could be ready to vote on in the Senate in four weeks.
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