Tajudeen Abbas, the speaker of the House of Representatives, has withdrawn a bill seeking to punish Nigerians who publicly insult public officeholders.
Abbas said the bill, titled Counter Subversion Bill, was withdrawn after a careful consideration of Nigeria’s current circumstances.
Nigerians have responded unpleasantly to the bill, which had proposed that any Nigerian who refused to recite the national anthem could be liable to a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both on conviction.
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Press Statement from the Office of the Speaker, House of RepresentativesAugust 14, 2024WITHDRAWAL OF THE COUNTER SUBVERSION BILL AND OTHER RELATED BILLSThread #HouseNGR #CounterSubversionBill #PressStatement pic.twitter.com/MyAJtrE8t3— Nigeria House of Representatives (@HouseNGR) August 14, 2024
The bill further sought to punish any citizen or group who insulted government officials and community leaders or forcefully took over any public place.
On Wednesday, Musa Krishi, the speaker’s spokesman, relayed the withdrawal of the bill in a statement.
“In response to the voices and concerns of the people, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., has decided to withdraw the Counter Subversion Bill and other related draft legislation,” said Krishi.
“This decision follows his extensive consultations with a broad range of stakeholders and a careful consideration of the nation’s current circumstances.
“Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, a champion of the people’s interests, has always prioritized listening to the citizens and fostering unity. His decision reflects his commitment to ensuring that the House remains truly the People’s House.
“He acknowledges the significance of the concerns raised and the attention the Bill has garnered, reaffirming that he will never support any action that might disrupt the peace and unity of our nation.
“The public is hereby notified of the withdrawal of the Counter Subversion Bill and other related ones introduced on July 23, 2024.”
Press Statement from the Office of the Speaker, House of RepresentativesAugust 14, 2024Clarification on Counter Subversion Bill…Draft legislation still at introductory stage…House welcomes robust discussions on the Bill, and how to address concernsThe attention of… pic.twitter.com/y5ATReFsYq— Hon Abbas Tajudeen, PhD. (@Speaker_Abbas) August 14, 2024
This withdrawal came a few hours after the speaker posted on X that the bill was still subject to further legislative scrutiny and lawmakers could “kill” or “allow” it to sail through, depending on their judgement.
The hasty change of Nigeria’s national anthem by the federal government on May 29 generated a heated disagreement, with many Nigerians vowing not to recite the new anthem in protest.
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