The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Godswill Akpabio-led National Assembly to reject the newly introduced social media regulation bill.
Urging the National Assembly to reject the recently re-introduced bill in a tweet, the group alleged that the newly introduced bill was a replica of what Nigerians kicked against during the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
The group asked Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr Tajudeen Abbass to reject the bill warning that it would unduly restrict citizen’s rights to freedom of expression and privacy.
“SERAP has urged the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas to reject the recently reintroduced social media regulation bill which if passed would unduly restrict the rights to freedom of expression and privacy,” the statement by SERAP read.
The rights organisation argued that social media was neither a monster nor Nigeria’s problem, warning that any attempt to regulate social media would run foul of provisions of the 1999 constitution that guarantee human rights.
The organization said the bill raises concerns about the rights to freedom of expression and privacy, warning that assenting to the bill would lead to digital siege.
News About Nigeria recalls that the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2019, attempted to regulate social media. The move was, however, kicked against by many Nigerians who believed that attempts to regulate social media would infringe on the privacy of Nigerians.
However, in a recent move, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) had earlier hinted at plans to regulate social media.
