Senate has no plan to gag social media - Saraki
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Senator Bukola Saraki
Nigeria’s Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki has again clarified that the alleged plans by the Senate to gag the social media was not true.
Speaking on Monday in Abuja while declaring open Implementation of Guidelines on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Young Persons organized by Women Arise he said that the public got the information wrong.
He said, “The issue that has been very popular these days which Senator Dino Melaye did mention, this is another opportunity and I don’t think one can get tired of trying to say the right thing. I want to reassure you, there is no bill called the anti-social media bill.
“What we have before us is the bill of frivolous petitions. Generally, when we debate at the second reading, we only debate principles of a bill, not details of a bill. Unfortunately, in the bill of frivolous petitions, there are things which I will call obnoxious sections; these sections would not see light of the day by the time the bill is finished.”
He assured the public of openness and transparency, adding that ‘it was not our intention to gag any social media at all.”
On gender based violence; Saraki stated that GBV is the least prosecuted offence in the country.
He lamented that if the nation could stand as one to fight the scourge, GBV would soon become history.
He said there was urgent need for serious advocacy against sexual assaults especially among youths.
Saraki, who spoke on adverse effect of the situation, stated that about 60 per cent of the nation’s population is predominantly youths, thus urgent need for concerted efforts to ‘stop GBV as a nation.’
“Truly if we want change in our society, this is the change we must all desire. We must all decide as a nation to stop gender based violence. Members of the Eight Senate would play its role to discourage gender based violence,” he added.
Earlier, Chairman Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Dino Melaye called for increased advocacy against gender based violence.
He said it became imperative to change orientation of the youths especially from preparatory schools, while efforts should be made to change schools’ curriculum.
“Various sensitization and capacity-building programmes, targeting the public in general, and specific groups such as faith –based organizations, professional groups, schools, traditional institutions; law-enforcement agencies, etc. have been carried out. This has contributed greatly to breaking the silence that for long surrounded the issue,” Melaye stated.
President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin said the event was put together to disseminate guidelines on GBV through contacts with local responsible agencies, youth and youth serving organisations in the country.
She stated that the Non-Governmental Organization is committed to protecting young persons who are vulnerable to the scourge.
Senator Bukola Saraki
Nigeria’s Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki has again clarified that the alleged plans by the Senate to gag the social media was not true.
Speaking on Monday in Abuja while declaring open Implementation of Guidelines on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Young Persons organized by Women Arise he said that the public got the information wrong.
He said, “The issue that has been very popular these days which Senator Dino Melaye did mention, this is another opportunity and I don’t think one can get tired of trying to say the right thing. I want to reassure you, there is no bill called the anti-social media bill.
“What we have before us is the bill of frivolous petitions. Generally, when we debate at the second reading, we only debate principles of a bill, not details of a bill. Unfortunately, in the bill of frivolous petitions, there are things which I will call obnoxious sections; these sections would not see light of the day by the time the bill is finished.”
He assured the public of openness and transparency, adding that ‘it was not our intention to gag any social media at all.”
On gender based violence; Saraki stated that GBV is the least prosecuted offence in the country.
He lamented that if the nation could stand as one to fight the scourge, GBV would soon become history.
He said there was urgent need for serious advocacy against sexual assaults especially among youths.
Saraki, who spoke on adverse effect of the situation, stated that about 60 per cent of the nation’s population is predominantly youths, thus urgent need for concerted efforts to ‘stop GBV as a nation.’
“Truly if we want change in our society, this is the change we must all desire. We must all decide as a nation to stop gender based violence. Members of the Eight Senate would play its role to discourage gender based violence,” he added.
Earlier, Chairman Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Dino Melaye called for increased advocacy against gender based violence.
He said it became imperative to change orientation of the youths especially from preparatory schools, while efforts should be made to change schools’ curriculum.
“Various sensitization and capacity-building programmes, targeting the public in general, and specific groups such as faith –based organizations, professional groups, schools, traditional institutions; law-enforcement agencies, etc. have been carried out. This has contributed greatly to breaking the silence that for long surrounded the issue,” Melaye stated.
President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin said the event was put together to disseminate guidelines on GBV through contacts with local responsible agencies, youth and youth serving organisations in the country.
She stated that the Non-Governmental Organization is committed to protecting young persons who are vulnerable to the scourge.
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