TheCable

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSO) has asked the senate to drop the controversial social media bill and to halt the public hearing on the proposed legislation.

The CSOs, at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said what is expected of the senate is to use the public hearing to apologise to Nigerians for wasting legislative time in resuscitating an ”obnoxious bill” that had been rejected.

Bukky Shonibare, director of Girl Child Africa, who spoke on behalf of the group, said the bill if passed into law would be used to silence dissenting voices.

“The planned public hearing on SB. 132 should therefore be an avenue to apologise to the people for wasting legislative time in resuscitating an obnoxious bill that had been totally rejected and to drop the bill,” Shonibare said.

“The senate should rather promote bills that would improve the civic space, and not unduly restrict it.

“We urge the national assembly, in particular the senate to view the internet platforms as independent dashboard of ideas where people can freely exchange ideas and express their opinions or thoughts.

“It has also come to the knowledge of the people that it is a bill that seeks to give the executive arm of government outright powers to regulate the internet and control communications, but which has been disguised as a private member bill in the senate.”

Seun Bakare, head of programme, Amnesty International in her remarks, said there was no need for any legislation to stop citizens from expressing themselves.

She said with good leadership all the concerns raised by the sponsors of the bill can be addressed, adding that the proposed law has no intention of protecting the masses.