Nigeria Senate Bows To Public Pressure, Shoots Down Hate Speech Bill

The Nigerian Senate has bowed to pressure to jettison the recently proposed Prohibition of Hate Speech Bill which seeks death penalty for anyone found guilty of hate speech.

An indication of this was contained in a letter written by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, to the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA.)

HURIWA had petitioned Lawan to register the public’s rejection of the hate speech and social media bills to the Senate.

In his response, the senate president revealed that the upper legislative chamber would not pass the proposed bill.

Lawan’s response, which was dated November 20th 2019 and signed by his Chief of Staff, Babagana M. Aji, was received  by HURIWA on December 4, 2019.

The response party reads, “I write to present the compliments of the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Sen. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, Ph.D., CON and to acknowledge receipt of your letter on the above subject wherein you asked the National Assembly to suspend ad infinitum the current attempts at introducing obnoxious legislation to curb access to the social media.

“His Excellency is appreciative of your concern towards upholding our constitution and your members’ continuous use of their talents as writers to promote, protect and project the human rights of all Nigerians. His Excellency assures you that the Senate will not pass any anti-people laws.”

“While thanking you, please accept the assurances of the President of the Senate.”

HURIWA had written the senate through the offices of the Senate President on November 13th, 2019.

The rights group had said, “Freedom of expression is one of the fundamental rights provided in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). By virtue of the same and other international instruments, it is the freedom to hold opinions, receive ideas and information and impart ideas and information without interference. Social media is used in reference to the means of expression other than the mainstream media.”

It had urged the National Assembly to discard any bill that threatens the rights to freedom of speech of the citizens.