The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 threw out the much criticised Anti-Social Media Bill. This act represents one of the few moments that the current National Assembly has taken a practical step to stand by the side of the people.
The Senate said the proposed bill, which was termed a “Frivolous Petition” Bill would do more harm than good if passed into law.
When the news of the existence of the bill broke in late 2015, there was outrage all around the world as Nigerians rejected the bill. A powerful US lobby of Nigerians living abroad moved to include the names of all senators who supported the bill on the US’s No Fly list.
The bill, which was sponsored by Senator Bala Ibn Na’allah, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Kebbi State, was widely criticised for being an instrument for the clamp down on free speech. The bill mirrored the infamous Decree 4 of General Muhammadu Buhari’s dictatorial military regime of 1984 to 1985.
The bill had been condemned and linked to Buhari’s alleged Islamization agenda.
