Reacting to mounting criticisms which have trailed a bill before the senate aimed at curtailing usage and direction of social media platforms in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, stated that he would not assent to any document that negates the tenets of the federal constitution.
The controversial bill has scaled the crucial second reading in the Senate.
He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to the protection of free speech in line with democratic best practices.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, President Buhari assured that having swore to defend the Nigerian constitution, he ‘would not lend his hand to anything that is inconsistent with the document.’
Shehu explained that President Buhari is fully aware of the public reservations about the proposed legislation but assured that there is no cause for alarm “because the Senate is a democratic Senate. The president won’t assent to any legislation that may be inconsistent with the constitution.”
“As a key component of democratic principles, the president acknowledged that people in democratic societies are so emotionally attached to free speech that they would defend it with all their might.”
The Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and Other Related Matters bill, also known as the social media bill is sponsored by Senator Ibn Na’Allah, (APC, Kebbi South).
On Sunday, the senate, through its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi, said members of the public, including those for or against the Anti-Frivolity bill or parts of the bill will have the opportunity to shape its final outcome as there is an elaborate process which the bill must undergo before it becomes a law.
It noted that some of the comments on the bill emanated from misconception and misunderstanding of the objective which it said is meant to protect all individuals and institutions, including journalists and social media users.
“The senate is committed to freedom of speech and a fully inclusive and participatory democracy”.
“The process of passing a bill is comprehensive and provide for inputs to be taken from all and sundry. The first stage is merely to read the short title of the bill. The second stage is purely to debate the general principles,” it explained.
