This week, Nigeria’s senators moved a bill designed to muzzle free speech on social media one step closer to becoming law. The proposed law could affect an estimated 15 million plus Nigerians who use social media, not to mention the doubtless high numbers of Nigerians who send text messages.
The draft bill to “Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and Other Matters Connected Therewith” specifically targets users of social and electronic media. It passed its second reading in Nigeria’s Senate on Tuesday, and is now due to go to committee, where it will be further studied. If passed into law, it will restrict freedom of expression and a free press, which are protected by Section 39 of Nigeria’s constitution.
The draft bill, sponsored by Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s All People’s Congress party, seeks to criminalize two types of behavior.
First, it proposes a sentence of up to seven years in prison or a five million naira fine (US$25,000) for “anyone who intentionally propagates false information that could threaten the security of the country or that is capable of inciting the general public against the government through electronic message.”
Second, it seeks to criminalize anyone disseminating via text message, Twitter, WhatsApp, or any other form of social media an “abusive statement” intending to “set the public against any person and group of persons, an institution of government or such other bodies established by law.” The penalty for this is up to two years in prison or a two million naira fine (about US$10,000), or both.
The bill is riddled with problems. The vague term “abusive statement” is not defined and leaves a lot of room for subjective interpretation. Also, the proposed sanctions are excessively heavy. But most troubling of all, the draft bill is simply unnecessary. The offenses it seeks to criminalize already exist under Nigerian laws including those on treason, defamation, and libel.Nigeria’s lawmakers should focus on the critical issues facing the country, such as the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast, communal violence, corruption, and impunity for crimes by Nigerian’s own security forces, rather than trying to muzzle non-violent expressions of genuine dissent and criticism. To stay in line with international and African human rights standards, Nigeria should be moving to decriminalize defamation, not creating new similar crimes.
Nigeria is known for its vibrant civil society and strong independent media. Ironically, it was free speech and a free press that helped bring President Muhammadu Buhari and his party to power in this year’s elections. The Senate should not succumb to a misguided attempt to reverse those hard-won freedoms. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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These thieves under the leadership of the superthief Saraki will continue their stupidity as long as Nigerians remain silent and cowed. Shut down the Senate with non-stop demonstrations, that's what Nigerians need to do.
ReplyDeleteA repeat of 1983-85 event. ' He' can never change. We are watching and God is watching
ReplyDeleteThis is unfair to Nigerians who voted you all via the same means. You want to sensor a means to sensor you. God is watching
ReplyDeleteWhat is the good thing about you that is insulting somebody, pls lets them passed the bill into law so that peoples like FFK and orders can control their mouth.
ReplyDeleteSimply put you are a hard core tyrant if you cannot take criticisms and jokes from the people you lead. How can you sensor what the people will use to sensor you. I don't get it.
ReplyDeleteBala you must be a thief and terrorist for this bill. So you want us to be quiet while you terrorise us and loot the treasury. Develop power health care schools and transportation not criminalizing social media rants. You dont deserve a senate seat. You should be one of d unemployed waiting for 5000 monthly pay.
ReplyDeleteTruth is the cybercrime bill which GEJ signed a few weeks before handing over already contains these proposals, without the fines. These senators are time wasters we don't need. Next time we are voting, we should all be more particular about our lawmakers so we can avoid all this stupidity
ReplyDeleteAPC sponsoring a bill to gag not only the press but we ordinary Nigerians. It will not work. Lai mohammed just last week told social media influences to self-regulate, after that he visited some newspaper houses instructing them to report only 'credible' news. We know his antics they want to gag d press. If some feels that I published the wrong news about him let him go to court to seek redress. I say NO to this wicked Social Media Bill
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