CSOs Kick as Speaker Abbas Makes Clarifications on His ‘Counter Subversion Bill’

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen has refuted claims that the “Counter Subversion Bill, 2024” which he sponsored in the House will encroach on the fundamental rights of Nigerians.

The bill titled “The Counter Subversion Bill, 2024 (HB. 1652) went through first reading in the House on July 23, 2024.

However, in a statement it issued on Wednesday in Abuja, frontline civil rights group, the Take It Back Movement, raised the alarm alerting Nigerians that the bill sponsored by the speaker has the sole aim of clipping the rights of Nigerians including the right to free speech and civil disobedience.

Citing sections of the bill which seek to criminalise non-recital of the national anthem and defacing of the national flag, the Movement criticized the Speaker and the House of Representatives for not paying attention the the immediate needs of Nigerians including ignoring the pervasive hunger in the land, but were bent on further boxing Nigerians into a corner.

The statement signed byb group’s  the National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, and Public Relations Officer, Stephen Olabiyi, revealed that a section of the bill provides that  “anyone found guilty of destroying national symbols, refusing to recite the national anthem and pledge, defacing a place of worship with intent to incite violence, or undermining the Federal Government shall face a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both.”

The group, therefore, condemned the bill and urged the House to throw it away immediately. Part of the statement reads:

“We at the Take It Back Movement vehemently condemn the proposed Counter Subversion Bill introduced on August 14th, 2024, by Tajudeen Abass, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“This bill threatens the fundamental rights of Nigerians, and it seeks to impose excessive penalties on citizens for refusing to recite the national anthem. It also criminalizes civil actions deemed subversive to the government.

“This proposed legislation contradicts the core principles of freedom of speech, assembly, and demonstration that underpin any democratic society

“Hence, we demand that this bill should be discarded and not be passed into law; rather, the government should redirect its efforts toward tackling the underlying factors that contribute to discord and strife within our country.

“We further charge the House of Representatives to prioritize critical concerns such as widespread hunger, rampant mismanagement, and pervasive poverty, which have severely impacted the people of Nigeria.

 

Responding to the analysis of the bill, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen in a statement issued on Wednesday by his spokesman, Musa Kirshi denied that the bill was targeting the rights of Nigerians. The Speaker stated that he sponsored the bill with the best intensions in mind. He said that the bill was sponsored to compliment the fight against terrorism and other security threats in Nigeria noting that several other countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Turkey among others also have similar laws in their country.

The statement reads:

“The attention of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D has been drawn to reports in sections of the media about the Counter Subversion Bill, which he sponsored.

 

“The Speaker appreciates the interest Nigerians have so far shown on the Bill, which pertains to our national security.

 

“However, it has become necessary to make the following clarifications, considering the tilted reports and misconceptions about the Bill:

 

“The Counter Subversion Bill, 2024 (HB. 1652) was introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, with Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D. as the sponsor. Thus, the Bill is still at the introductory stage.

 

“The Bill falls within the realm of Nigeria’s anti-terrorism framework, and it seeks to address subversive activities by associations, organisations, militias, cults, bandits, and other proscribed groups in Nigeria.

 

“Similar legislation obtains in other climes with varied appellations. Such countries include the United Kingdom, Spain, India, Turkey, Canada, Australia, among others.

 

“The Speaker, and by extension the House of Representatives, which is the People’s House, welcome robust engagements and discussions from Nigerians on the contents of the Bill, and how best to address the concerns raised.

 

“By Parliamentary processes and procedures, the Bill would have to be listed for Second Reading, where Members will thoroughly scrutinize its merits and demerits during debate. At this stage, Members can decide to ‘kill’ or allow the Bill to pass. But if it scales Second Reading, it would be referred to the relevant Committee of the House for further legislative action.

 

“The Committee must as a matter of responsibility invite the Nigerian public, particularly relevant stakeholders, to a public hearing on the Bill. It is expected that citizens would bear their minds either physically or via memoranda on the Bill. Their inputs would form the basis for the Committee’s report, to be laid on the floor of the House.

After the consideration of the report, the Bill will be passed for the Third Reading and forwarded to the Senate for concurrence. If the Senate deems it fit and concurs with the Bill, a clean copy would be transmitted to the President for assent. Mr. President reserves the right to withhold assent to the Bill.

 

“The Speaker assures Nigerians that the Bill is all-encompassing as it relates to Nigeria’s national security and does not target any group or section of the country.

 

“Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D further promises that the Bill, and indeed any other draft legislation before the House, will pass through all the legislative processes, and Nigerians would have ample opportunity to make their inputs, which will constitute the final consideration (or otherwise) of the Bill.