NIGERIAN lawmakers are debating a new bill that could impose severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison, for actions deemed subversive. Critics argue this is an attempt to stifle dissent in the wake of recent anti-government protests.
The proposed legislation, known as the Counter Subversion Bill, has introduced various penalties, such as a 10-year jail term for refusing to recite the national anthem, five years for setting up ‘illegal roadblocks,’ and three years for ‘disobeying constituted authority.’
The bill comes on the heels of nationwide protests against economic reforms that have exacerbated the cost of living crisis. These protests ended abruptly after a forceful police crackdown, which left at least 23 people dead.
Many see the proposed law as an effort by the government to curb public demonstrations and silence opposition. The bill is sponsored by Abbas Tajudeen, the Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, and has just passed its first reading. It now moves to the second reading, a critical step in Nigeria’s legislative process.
This development has sparked widespread concern among civil rights groups and the public, who view the bill as a potential tool for suppressing free expression and peaceful protest in Nigeria.
