Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari could withhold his assent to the social

Partnership for Media and Democracy in Nigeria (PAMED), a coalition of NGOs, has called on the Senate to drop the Social Media Bill 2015 before it in order not to stand against the will of the people.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. David Kaye is considering the urgent appeal against the bill repressive social media bill known as “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and other Matters Connected therewith”, rights group Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has confirmed.

On his Facebook page, Saraki said any part of the bill that “is found obnoxious or against public interest” will be struck out.

If the bill is eventually passed at the senate, it must receive an approval from the House of Representatives and President Buhari to become law.

A cross-section of civil society organisations on Tuesday faulted the Frivolous Petitions (Prohibitions Etc.) Bill now before the Senate, cautioning the upper legislative chamber against embarking on it.

The UAC therefore advised the National Assembly to allow the media to focus on being effective watch-dog, describing the attempt of the legislators as a “contradiction to their electoral promises”.

As early as 7:00 AM protesters gathered at the Unity Fountain, located near the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, carrying various placards bearing slogans such as; “No To Gag Laws”, “Freedom of Speech Is A Fundamental Human Right”, and “Nigerians Say No To Social Media Bill”.

“Any person who unlawfully uses, publishes or cause to be published, any petition, complaint not supported by a duly sworn affidavit, shall be deemed to have committed an offence and upon conviction, shall be liable to an imprisonment for six months without an option of fine”, part of the bill – which was posted on the @NGRSenate timeline – reads.

Segun said existing laws on defamation and libel would make the bill redundant.

The group in a statement signed by its chairman, Kabiru Yusuf, applauded President Muhammadu Buhari’ s swift anticipatory veto on this monstrous bill. “Yet, Buhari has resisted the temptation to go after his critics as he has also rebuffed the senate’s bid to lure him into an unwholesome anti- media dragnet”, it said.

“Like the mainstream media, the social media platforms are in need of self- regulation and should embrace the best practices”. This stage also involve public hearing in which members of the public, civil society, non-governmental organizations and all interested parties for or against the bill have the opportunity to shape and influence its content. If well sliced, the provisions of the law covering defamation are already enough.