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‘You Will Build Tyrannical Monster By Amending Nigerian Press Council Bill’ – Shehu Sani Warns Reps

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NYSC Has Not United Nigeria - Shehu Sani Tackles Scheme's DG

A former Nigerian lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has condemned the plan by the Nigerian government to regulate social media bill in a way it will automatically make it impossible for the media to hold the government accountable.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had on Friday, disclosed that the National Broadcasting Commission will commence licensing of all social media operations in Nigeria.

Naija News reports that Mohammed disclosed this as the Federal Government suspended the operation of the micro-blogging platform, Twitter in Nigeria. This is coming after Twitter deleted a ‘civil war’ post by President Muhammadu Buhari which the social media platform said violated its policies.

The Minister in a statement released through his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Adeyemi, said the measure is with immediate effect. The Minister made the call at a public hearing on the bill to amend the NBC Act organised by the House Committee on Information.

He further stated that internet broadcasting and all online media should be included in the regulation because the government has the responsibility to monitor content— including Twitter.

Reacting to the development, Shehu Sani in a tweet opposed the move, describing it as a means to build a tyrannical monster that will consume Nigerian democracy and the constitution which they represent.

He wrote: “If the Senate and the House of Reps agree to amend the Nigerian Press Council Bill, that makes it impossible for the media to hold the Government to account.

“They will be building a tyrannical monster that will consume this democracy and the institution they represent.”