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 statement is signed by Dr Akin Akingbulu, Executive
Director, IMESO, Mr Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director, MRA, and Mr ‘Lanre
Arogundade, Director, IPC.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that controversy
had continued to trail the bill sponsored by Sen. Bala Ibn Na’Allah, (APC –
Kebbi South). 
The group, while citing examples from sections 3 and 4 of
the bill, contended that “it seeks to gag both the press and the general public
from expressing views and opinions.
“If the bill becomes law, it would infringe on human rights
to freedom of expression as globally recognised.’’
PAMED said the call became imperative because “the bill is a
threat to democracy in Nigeria.’’
This call is contained in a statement jointly signed by
members of PAMED – the Institute of Media and Society (IMESO), Media Rights
Agenda (MRA), and the International Press Centre (IPC).
The group held that the bill completely negated important
international conventions to which Nigeria was a signatory and which all
affirmed the right of citizens to hold opinion, freely express themselves and
freely disseminate information.
They also said that the bill was a subjugation of the
constitution which the Senate swore to uphold.
It stated that senators were representatives of the people
and should be held accountable by the people they served by answering questions
and responding to their criticisms.
“PAMED has come to the conclusion that the bill constitutes
a threat to democracy because it seeks to repress the social media, the
conventional media, the civil society and the citizenry as a whole.
“In the light of all the pressing development challenges
confronting the country, which should be the priorities of the Senators and all
other persons exercising any form of political power or authority, the PAMED is
of the view that the bill itself is frivolous and unwarranted.
“The bill, through its frivolous content and malicious
intent, seeks to achieve nothing other than undermining freedom of expression,
press freedom, public participation in governance and democracy.
“PAMED, therefore, affirms that the bill violates all the
norms of democratic practise, freedom of expression, press freedom,
transparency and accountability as well as open governance.’’ (NAN)
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