The recent move by the Federal Government to regulate social media has sparked controversy as internet users vow to resist any attempt to curb freedom of speech.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) sent a bill to the National Assembly on October 3, seeking to repeal and reenact the NBC Act, CAP L11 laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004. If this bill is passed into law, it would grant the NBC authority to oversee social media.
The Director-General of NBC, Balarabe Ilelah, referred to social media as a “monster” during a meeting with the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, at the commission’s headquarters after the bill was submitted. He suggested that a law allowing the NBC to address issues related to social media is necessary to manage its impact on daily life in the country.
As a result, the NBC has initiated discussions with major social media platforms to regulate their users’ actions.
This development has caused controversy among Nigerians, who argue that the government is attempting to pressure social media companies into restricting their fundamental human rights. Some critics of the bill believe it is a government plot to curtail freedom of expression and individual privacy.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to reject the bill outright. SERAP contends that the bill, if passed into law, would criminalize the legitimate exercise of Nigerians’ human rights and is inconsistent with the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights obligations.
It’s important to note that previous attempts to regulate social media by the former administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari faced strong resistance from Nigerians. In June 2021, the government suspended the microblogging site, Twitter, for allegedly supporting insurrection during the EndSARS protests in October 2020. The suspension lasted for about seven months and drew widespread criticism. Critics argue that the government’s latest attempt to regulate social media is an attempt to stifle criticism and restrict freedom of expression.
While some Nigerians are concerned about the impact of social media on moral values, they also stress the importance of constructive criticism and opposition in a democratic society. There is optimism that the bill will be rejected, with the belief that existing laws can address issues of social media abuse without infringing on citizens’ freedom of speech and expression.