Nigerian Activists Condemn Proposed Counter Subversion Bill
A growing concern has been raised in Nigeria over a proposed bill that has been dubbed a threat to fundamental rights and freedoms. The Take It Back Movement (TIBM) has strongly condemned the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, sponsored by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
According to a statement co-signed by the movement’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, and Public Relations Officer, Stephen Olabiyi, the bill poses a significant risk to Nigerians’ rights to freedom of speech, movement, and assembly. The bill, which is awaiting its second reading, proposes severe penalties for anyone found guilty of destroying national symbols, refusing to recite the national anthem, defacing a place of worship, or undermining the Federal Government.
The proposed legislation has been met with widespread criticism, with the TIBM demanding that it be discarded and not passed into law. Instead, the movement is calling on the government to prioritize more critical concerns, such as widespread hunger and pervasive poverty, which have severely impacted the people of Nigeria.
The TIBM’s 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.”
The movement has vowed to protect the constitutional rights of Nigerians and is urging the government to redirect its efforts toward addressing the underlying factors that contribute to discord and strife within the country.
