- Pledges not to disrupt peace, unity of Nigeria
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has withdrawn the Counter Subversion Bill and other related draft legislations following widespread public concern.
The decision, announced in a press statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Krishi, on Wednesday was said to have come after extensive consultations with various stakeholders and a careful assessment of the nation’s current circumstances.
The Counter Subversion Bill, which was introduced on July 23, 2024, sparked public debate and raised concerns about its potential impact on civil liberties.
The statement read, “In response to the voices and concerns of the people, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has decided to withdraw the Counter Subversion Bill and other related draft legislation.
“His decision to withdraw the bill reflects his commitment to ensuring that the House of Representatives remains a true representation of the people’s will.”
Krishi noted that the withdrawal of the bill underscores Tajudeen’s pledge to never support any legislation that could potentially disrupt the peace and unity of the nation.
“Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, a champion of the people’s interests, has always prioritised listening to the citizens and fostering unity. His decision reflects his commitment to ensuring that the House remains truly the People’s House.
“He acknowledges the significance of the concerns raised and the attention the Bill has garnered, reaffirming that he will never support any action that might disrupt the peace and unity of our nation.
“The public is hereby notified of the withdrawal of the Counter Subversion Bill and other related ones introduced on July 23, 2024,” he added.
The Counter Subversion Bill 2024 went viral on social media on Tuesday after it scaled through the first reading and proceeded to the second, where its general principles would be debated on August 23.
It aims to impose stringent penalties on Nigerians who fail to recite the newly approved national anthem or abuse politicians or community leaders.
According to the bill, anyone found guilty shall be fined up to N5 million and would face five to 10 years prison sentence or both.
A group, the Take It Back Movement, had earlier condemned the Counter Subversion Bill 2024.
In a statement co-signed by the movement’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, and Public Relations Officer, Stephen Olabiyi, the group said the bill threatens Nigerians’ fundamental rights and contradicts the core principles of freedom of speech, movement, and assembly that underpin democracy.
The TIBM demanded that the bill be discarded and not be passed into law while charging the House of Reps to prioritize more critical concerns such as widespread hunger and the pervasive poverty, which had severely impacted the people of Nigeria.
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.”
The group said it perceived the legislation as an effort to stifle the rights of Nigerians, adding that it “unequivocally” denounced the “proposed repressive legislation”, vowing to protect the constitutional rights of Nigerians.
