At last, senate withdraws anti-social media bill

The senate has withdrawn the controversial frivolous petition bill, known as anti- social media bill.

The red chamber announced the decision at plenary on Tuesday after David Umar, chairman of the senate committee on human rights and legal matters presented his committee’s report at plenary.

Umar, an All Progressives Congress (APC) senator from Niger state, said his committee recommended the withdrawal of the bill based on the strong opposition to it across the country.

The bill was sponsored by Bala Ibn Na’Allah, an APC lawmaker from Kebbi state.

The anti-social media bill imposed harsh penalties for tweets or text messages that conveyed statements considered untrue from a group of persons to an institution of government.

The bill had been thoroughly criticised by an active social media community that described it as attempting to gag free speech and abuse the rights of Nigerians as enshrined in the constitution.

The bill was described as vague with the intent to repress dissent against the government.

Civil societies groups embarked on campaigns to stop the bill from being passed.

Senate President Bukola Saraki had earlier hinted that the bill “will not see the light of day”.