Nigerian Civil Society groups Verdict on the Social Media Bill hearing

COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS FOR PROTECTION OF CIVIC SPACE

CIVIL SOCIETY VERDICT ON PUBLIC HEARING ON SOCIAL MEDIA BILL

PRESS STATEMENT

Fellow Citizens,

It is with great optimism that we wish to express our satisfaction with the preponderance of views and arguments against the Protection from Internet Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill (a.k.a. Social Media Bill) during the Public Hearing at the Nigerian Senate on Monday, March 9, 2020.

It has now become abundantly clear to everyone, and particularly to Senator Muhammed Sani Musa – the sponsor of the Social Media Bill – and other Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that the majority of views and arguments canvassed during the Public Hearing overwhelmingly indicates the resistance, disapproval, condemnation, and outright rejection of the Bill as it has no place in Nigeria.

From the public hearing, which was broadcast live in Nigeria and to the world, the fair conclusion of the majority of views collated is that the bill must be withdrawn and trashed by the Ninth Assembly.

While we appreciate the open and cordial efforts of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, we further urge the committee to report to the Senate, the overwhelming condemnation of the Social Media Bill by Nigerians during the Public Hearing.

We also believe that it is equally important to emphasize to the Nigerian Senate that their subsequent deliberations on the Social Media Bill will be keenly followed and monitored by the people to ensure that we resist any attempt to undermine the established principle of rule of law and protection of fundamental human rights.

With the latest development, it is also our view that the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters now has a golden chance to equally prevail on the Ninth Assembly to drop other anti-people bills like the ‘Hate Speech Bill’ and the ‘NGO Bill’, that intend to further shrink Nigeria’s civic space and undermine her democracy.

We urge the Ninth Assembly to carve its name in gold in the annals of history and be recorded as

a House

Signed…

that stood firmly with the people during a very trying time for Nigeria’s democracy.

Center For Liberty
Girl Child Africa
Global Rights
Enough is Enough Nigeria
Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre Oxfam Nigeria

Transition Monitoring Group (TMG)

1

1. Centre for Information Technology and Development
2. Sterling Center for Law and Development
3. Network of Disabled Women
4. Disabled People in Leadership Initiative
5. Rule of Law Development Foundation
6. Dorothy Njemanze Foundation
7. TechHer NG
8. Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC)
9. Raising New Voices Initiative
10. Concerned Nigerians
11. The Election Network
12. Center for Impact Advocacy
13. Amnesty International Nigeria
14. Free Nigeria Coalition
15. Raising New Voices Initiative
16. Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution
17. Education As A Vaccine
18. Adopt A Goal for Development Initiative
19. House of Justice
20. Gatefield TV
21. The Art and Civic Table
22. SilverchipFox
23. Butterfly Effect Empowerment Initiative
24. Youth Concerns Development Foundation
25. Dinidari Foundation
26. Partners West Africa Nigeria
27. Haly Hope Foundation
28. Youths in Motion
29. Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion
30. CedaarSeed Foundation
31. Women on Wheels
32. E-Ability Platform
33. State of the Union
34. African Centre for Media and Information Literacy
35. National Procurement Watch Platform
36. Say No Campaign – Nigeria
37. Community Action for Popular Participation
38. Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress
39. Tax Justice Nigeria
40. Women in Nigeria
41. Environmental Rights Action/Friend of the Erath, Nigeria
42. Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF)
43. Alliances for Africa (AfA)
44. Women Advocate Research and Documentation Center (WARDC)
45. Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative
46. Women Rights and Health Project (WRAHP)
47. Association of Aliwe Daughters International
48. Gender Advocacy for Justice Initiative (GAJI)
49. Equality Through Education Foundation
50. Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre

2

1. Girl Child Advocate
2. Equality Through Education Foundation
3. Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre
4. Echoes of Women in Africa Initiatives
5. Network of Productive Health Journalists of Nigeria (NRHJN)
6. Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project (SERAP)
7. Citizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR)
8. Halliru Memorial Youth Development and Empowerment Initiative
9. Daria Media Foundation
10. Sesor Empowerment Foundation
11. Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké Okome, Professor of Political Science, African & Women’s Studies,Brooklyn College, City University of NY, USA.
12. Responsible Citizenship and Human Development Initiative
13. NoMore234NG
14. Women Foundation of Nigeria (WFN)
15. Media Concern Initiative (MediaCon)
16. First Future Leadership
17. Ovie Brume Foundation
18. Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative (WOPEGEE)
19. Ayodeji Fadugba, Director Kili Ceramics – Girl Child advocate
20. International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH)
21. ACTS Generation
22. Country Associates Network (CANET)
23. Emerge Women Development Initiative (EWDI)
24. Working Moms Africa (WMA)
25. Women’s Right to Education Programme
26. Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative (GERI)
27. ActionAid Nigeria
28. Jireh Doo Foundation Nigeria (JDF)
29. African Women Empowerment and Child Care Initiative
30. Amazing Grace Inspirations
31. Centre for Nonviolence and Gender Advocacy in Nigeria (CENGAIN)
32. Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria
33. Justice and Empowerment Initiatives – Nigeria (JEI)
34. Widows Development Organisation
35. #BringBackOurGirls
36. Civil Resource Development and Documentation Center
37. Centre for the Eradication of Violence Against Women
38. Child Rights Protection Initiative
39. YIAGA Africa
40. Connected Development (CODE)
41. Youth Hub Africa
42. BraveHeart Initiative for Youth & Women
43. Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC)
44. Women Africa
45. Koyenum Immalah Foundation
46. Center for Transparency Advocacy
47. Avocats San Frontiers France
48. Women in Humanitarian Response in Nigeria Initiative
49. IANSA Women Network Nigeria

108. Equity Advocates/The Woman Today
109. Stand to End Rape Initiative (STER)
110. Flash Dynamic Concepts
111. Coalition African Political Gladiators (CAPG) 112. Public Enlightenment Projects

113. CLEEN Foundation
114. Silverchip Fox Consulting
115. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) 116. Africanwomannig
117. Centa for Organisational Development
118. Women Arise Development and Humanitarian Initiative (WADHI) 119. Media and Teens Network
120. Change Managers International Network
121. 100 Women Lobby Group