BREAKING NEWS, Media
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THE Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has called on the Senate of the federal republic of Nigeria to ‘unconditionally’ suspend all proceedings with respect to its proposed bill, entitled: Frivolous Petitions (Prohibitions, etc) Bill, 2015.
The NGE described the bill which on the verge of being passed in the Senate as an anti-social media law and obnoxious law capable of negating the spirit of the constitution. The Guild argued that there were enough laws in the country to accommodate the perceived concerns of the lawmakers.
It warned that the an anti-media law would return the nation to the repressive military era.
In a statement signed by Garba Deen Muhammad, the NGE president, the editors decried what it identified as the broad objective of the “curiously accelerated Bill to outlaw the freedom of expression of all Nigerian citizens and freedom of speech of all media organizations operating in print, electronic and on-line platforms in Nigeria and beyond.”
The statement further expressed the concern that “a group of persons elected by Nigerians to ensure that their rights, privileges and interests are protected, should gleefully misuse the mandate given to them to the detriment of the same people that elected them.”
While acknowledging that members of the Senate have a right both individually and collectively to express their concerns about the abuse of the cyberspace by unscrupulous people and organisations, the Guild advised the lawmakers to consolidate or strengthen the existing laws and enforce implementation.
Bukola Saraki, Senate president, was quoted last week, that no amount of attacks arising from it would make the Senate abandon the proposed law.
Saraki, who acknowledged the role of the social media in the development of the country’s growing democracy, berated the activities of some social media platforms which he said had published numerous materials to undermine the integrity of the upper chamber.
“People must be held responsible for their action. I believe what has been raised is important,” Saraki reportedly said.
— Dec 7, 2015 @ 12:58 GMT
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