The senate has finally withdrawn the Controversial Frivolous Petition Bill, known as anti- social media bill.
The Senate announced its decision at the plenary on Tuesday after David Umar, chairman of the senate committee on Human Rights and Legal Matters presented his Committee’s report at Plenary.
David 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, also a senator of the APC lawmaker representing Kebbi state.
The Anti-Social Media Bill was expected to imposed harsh penalties for tweets or text messages that carried statements considered untrue from individuals or groups of persons about an institution of government.
The bill had been thoroughly criticized by a young and active Social Media Community that described it as attempting to gag free speech and also abuse the rights of Nigerians as enshrined in the constitution.
The bill was presented with the intent to repress dissent by the citizenry against the government especially the legislative arm of government.
Civil societies groups embarked on campaigns to stop the bill from being passed.
The Senate President Bukola Saraki, had earlier hinted that the bill will not see the light of day and that he was not in support of the bill.
With this new development it is Viva to Free Speech.
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