Bill on social media passes second reading at Senate

A bill intended to regulate social media use in the country, has passed second reading at the Nigerian Senate.

The bill entitled, ‘Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation 2019’ passed second reading on Tuesday.

It was passed after the sponsor, Senator Sani Musa, representing Niger-East, moved a motion for a debate on the proposed law.

The bill is seeking for an Act to make provisions for the protection from internet falsehood and manipulations and related matters.

When the motion for the debate was called on the debate, only Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, a former governor of Enugu State, opposed its passage.

Another senator, who expressed concern on the bill, was Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, who raised a constitutional point of order to caution the red chamber against its passage.

READ ALSO: FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION: EFCC, ICPC, others to get more funds —Senate

Those who supported the passage of the bill were Senators Ibrahim Gobir, Elisha Abbo, and Abba Moro.

Consequently, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan put the passage of the bill for a second reading to a voice vote after it was clear that no senator was ready to speak against it.

At the end, the majority of the lawmakers voted in support of the bill and it was read the second time

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now