In any democracy, bills are sponsored either by the executive arm of the government or the members of the National Assembly. The bill usually passes through three stages before it finally becomes the law.
The stages include first reading, second reading, and the final approval by the House. Before the final stage, the bill is committed to a committee which would oversee the conduct of public hearing to feel the impulse of the general public on the proposed bill.
The political activities in Nigeria during the year under review did not go without controversies, especially on some of the bills currently before or passed by the National Assembly.
Edeson Online News brings to the fore the three major
controversial laws made by the National Assembly that triggered reactions and counter-reactio
1. Hate speech bill
The Senate on Tuesday, November 28, reintroduced a bill that seeks to penalise persons found guilty of hate speech. The national commission for the prohibition of hate speech bill was sponsored by the deputy chief whip, Aliyu Abdullahi.
The bill prescribes the death penalty for anyone found guilty of spreading a falsehood that leads to the death of another person. The bill also seeks the establishment of a national commission for the prohibition of hate speech to help investigate and prosecute offenders. The reintroduction of the bill generated controversies among Nigerians. Some civic groups kicked against the bill because of its narrow and unclear definition of what constitutes hate speech. They said the provisions of the bill would be contrary to the Nigerian constitution if the bill eventually becomes law.
The constitution protects the rights to unhindered speech, expression and association.
2. Generator Bill
The senator representing Niger South, Bima Enagi, introduced a bill that seeks to ban the importation of generators in Nigeria and this has angered lots of Nigerians.
The bill, titled “a bill for an Act to prohibit/ban the importation of generating sets to curb the menace of environmental (air) pollution and to facilitate the development of the power sector,” was one of the six bills read for the first time on Wednesday.
The bill prescribes, at least, ten years imprisonment for any person who knowingly sells generator sets.
3. 2. Anti-social media bill
Another bill that generated reactions and protests among Nigerians is anti-social media bill. The proposed law which was sponsored by the senator representing Niger East at the Senate, Mohammed Sani Musa, titled: A bill for an act to make provisions for the protection from Internet falsehood and manipulations and for related matters, 2019.
Senators Uba Sani and Oseni Yakubu who addressed the protesters on behalf of the president of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said that the bills would not be passed if they were rejected by Nigerians during the public hearing. Senator Uba Sani, who represents Kaduna Central, said: “We have heard your agitation. We believe it is a very important agitation. Some of us in the chamber have also been involved in the struggle for the enthronement of democracy in the country.
“The two bills in question were introduced by some of our colleagues. Some of us in the National Assembly, including the Senate president, would appear at the public hearing. Whatever Nigerians want is what the 9th Senate would do.
GUYS, WHICH OF THESE SENATORS DO YOU LIKE? WHICH OF THESE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS DO YOU SUPPORT AND WHY? DO YOU LIKE THE GENERATOR BILL?
GUYS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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FACEBOOK COMMENTS
View previous comments…Victor Divine
They are all from the same region with low thinking capacity very poor to handle simple matters
Chijioke Onu
The bills intentions was to frustrate the southerners businesses,see all the bills a northerner sponsored is to frustrate south eastern business,open your eyes to truths Nigerians.
Solomon Bakare
These people don't have nothing better to sponsor?
