The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has tasked the leadership of the National Assembly and its leadership, Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, to reject the recently reintroduced social media regulation bill.
In its latest move, the group said that the passage of the bill “would unduly restrict the rights to freedom of expression and privacy,” and urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to stop the piece of legislation.
The organisation noted that the bill would “criminalise the legitimate and lawful exercise of human rights.”
SERAP asked President Tinubu’s administration to stop its efforts to compel technological firms like Google and YouTube to restrict such fundamental human rights.
The National Broadcasting Commission last week reportedly stated that, “one of Nigeria’s major problems now is social media,” and described social media as “a monster.”
In the letter dated October 14, 2023, and signed by SERAP deputy director, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “social media is neither Nigeria’s problem nor a monster. Any regulation of it would have arbitrary and excessive effects, and cause incalculable damage, both in material and human rights terms.
“Any move to regulate social media would be inconsistent and incompatible with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
“The reintroduction of the social media regulation bill would lead to deterioration of the human rights situation in the country and carry major economic costs for all sectors, as well as exacerbate social and economic inequalities.”
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
