Senate Panel To Begins Work On Anti-Social Media Bill Next Week

Nigeria’s Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters has on Friday said it would fix a date for a public hearing on the controversial Social Media Regulation Bill 2019 next week.

This is coming barely four days after the contentious bill scaled second reading on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.

The anti-social media bill, the legislation is being sponsored by the Senator representing Niger East District, Sani Musa.

According to Punchnews report, Bamidele speaking exclusively with the newspaper said that , “Our committee would meet next week and fix a date for the public hearing.

“Because of the interest that the bill has generated by the public, it would be better that we give all stakeholders sufficient notice.

“We want an adequate representation of all stakeholders, particularly from the civil society.

“We will also, next week, discuss with the sponsor of the bill and the leadership of the National Assembly about the planned public hearing.

“We are going to give sufficient notice, we are not going to rush the process.”

The bill, if signed into law, social media offenders will serve a three-month jail term and a fine up to N10m for individuals or corporate firms.

Reports reaching Dailyfocus News Online have it that NBA, SANs, Falana vow to attend public hearing.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Paul Usoro (SAN), said on Friday that the NBA would attend the public hearing on the anti-social media bill.

Falana who vowed to attend the hearing said: “I am going to participate in the public hearing. We will appear to educate them on the matter”.

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed December 2, 2019, for a hearing of the case filed against the enactment of the anti-social media bill.

 

Culled From Punch Newspaper