Despite public criticism, the Senate on Wednesday vowed to continue with the process for the passage of a bill seeking to regulate the use of social media in Nigeria.
The Senate had passed into Second Reading a bill seeking two years imprisonment with an option of N2 million fine or both for any Nigerian who posts “abusive statements” on the social media.
Senator Dino Melaye, coming through a point of order during plenary, expressed dissatisfaction with the abuse of the social media by some online publishers whom he said have sold their “conscience”.
Melaye, who specifically mentioned prominent online platform, Sahara Reporters, said others in the online news business are in the habit of fair reportage.
He said Sahara Reporters is known for outright falsehood.
He added that Sahara Reporters operates from New York in the United States of America and the Nigerian Governmentt should write the US Government on the platform’s penchant for misinformation.
Melaye said Sahara Reporters is a threat to democracy.
Contributing to the point of order, Senator Abiodun Olujimi said the amount of falsehood flying everywhere is staggering and a scapegoat has to be made as deterrent for others.
Olujimi revealed that she had to exit all social media platforms because of the continued lies and falsehood peddled around.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said the online media remains a major addition to the democratic discourse, but it should not be abused.
Advertisement