Nigeria’s lawmakers are about to pass a bill which could gag citizens on social media

Nigeria’s senators and house representatives are not exactly a popular bunch. Widely criticized for their high salaries and luxurious lifestyles, Nigerians have a frosty relationship with their senators. That relationship could get even worse with the introduction of a bill which is seen as aiming to gag free speech on social media.

According to lawmakers, the bill is aimed at prohibiting ‘frivolous petitions’ and preventing the spread of falsehood. The bill, if successfully passed, will compel critics to accompany petitions with court affidavits. If petitions are proven false, the bill says an offender could face jail time and fines as high as $20,000.

The bill also targets online and print media as senators, while debating the bill, announced displeasure with the spread of ‘false stories’.

Even though the lawmakers have sought to position the bill as attempt to dissuade citizens from maliciously discrediting public office holders intentionally, it has come under criticism by many who see it not only as a clampdown on the right to freedom of speech but also a ploy by the lawmakers to silence some of their critics.

Senate president, Bukola Saraki explained that the bill was not about censorship of free speech. “We all support freedom of speech but as a senate we should not be blackmailed. You can’t write false stories just because it is social media.”

But many Nigerians do not believe the senate president. On Twitter, a #NoToSocialMediaBill campaign has spread quickly as users of the platform express their anger with the lawmakers.