Masive 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.
The hashtag #MarchOnNASS has been trending on Twitter since Sunday with Nigerians globally speaking against the draconian law under review by the Senate. The hashtag #NoToSocialMediaBill has been animating arguments since last week on social media as well.
Some Tweets include:
A recent Twitter poll, conducted by SaharaReporters, showed that out of 1,158 participants 90% were against the media censorship bill in the Senate. Only 10% felt the bill was a good idea.
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 its 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.
source: saharareporters
