Reps, Presidency differ over hate speech, social media bills – TheNigerialawyer

The Presidency on Friday defended the National Commission for
the Prohibition of Hate Speech Bill and the Protection from
Internet Falsehood and Manipulation and Other Related Offences Bill
currently being worked on by the Senate.

The Presidency urged Nigerians to embrace the bill, stating that
countries all over the world were now making laws to regulate fake
news and social media.

But members of the House of Representatives, however, told the
Senate and the Federal Government that their constituents were
against the proposed laws, stating that they would oppose the bills
when transmitted to the House.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and
Publicity, Garba Shehu, while speaking at a media chat organised by
the House of Representatives Press Corps in Abuja on Friday, urged
the media to shed light on the benefits of the proposed laws.

Shehu said, “You people (the media) have to help the executive
of the country on a matter that is very crucial at this time before
the Nigerian parliament. This issue of fake news legislation that
is being contemplated, the Minister of Information (Lai Mohammed),
who speaks for the Nigerian government, has spoken of the necessity
for a law to govern the social media.

“The thing is that I think there is a duty to rip it open and
tell Nigerians what it contains. This Hate Speech bill is not all
about the death penalty; it is not all about free speech. Is there
content in that bill that prevents social media harm? I’ve seen
what the British parliament is doing, for instance, that social
media is being held accountable for what is called social media
addiction among children.”

The presidential spokesman cited the example of India, which he
said had been regulating the usage of the online messenger,
WhatsApp, adding that European countries were also imposing heavy
penalties on telecommunications companies.

Members of the House at the event, however, faulted Shehu while
expressing their opposition to the bills.

For instance, Mr Nicholas Ossai faulted sponsors of the bills
for not consulting widely with Nigerians before initiating the
bills.

Ossai said, “I believe that a right has been given to Nigerians
and for you to remove that right, you must go to them first. I
expect the Senator who is initiating that bill to go back to the
people first and be able to do necessary things with the people.
Let that bill originate from the people, not coming from the
top.”

Another member of the House, Mr Dachung Bagos, also expressed
opposition to the bills.

“If you take it from what Ossai said, that the Senate should go
round the geopolitical zones about the hate speech and social media
bills, I’m sure that what will come from the constituents will be
another hate speech. But I believe that if you have gauged the
minds and what Nigerians are saying against it; that we don’t need
such a bill now. Let us respect the views of Nigerians,” he
added.