Senate says Social Media Bill not yet submitted

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Senate has dismissed the claim by an online platform that the controversial Social Media Bill has been surreptitiously submitted for passage anytime soon, saying it is yet to receive the report of the Committee which worked on the Bill.
In a statement issued by the Senate Spokesman, Senator Ajibola Basiru, at the weekend, the red chamber said it conducts its activities in the open, stating that such public interest Bill as Social Media Bill would not be an exception.
According to the statement, the story as ‘made up’ by the reporter is false and a lie concocted by the medium to ridicule and tarnish the image of the Senate.
“This report is yet another example of irresponsibility taken too far as there has not been any recommendation for passage of the bill by the Senate.
“The Senate wishes that Nigerians will be circumspect, shunning gullibility which makes them to lap up those invidious write ups and begin to comment on non-existent issues.
“If some people have chosen the path of perfidy wanting to bring the nation and its sacred institutions down, Nigerians must be wary and unwilling to be led by those to believing the false fabrication.
“It should be a common knowledge by all that the Senate conducts its sittings in the open and matters for consideration are well laid out and therefore, would not require anyone’s investigation to ‘dig’ out what the Senate would do.
“The relevant committee of the Senate has not submitted its report for the bill to be passed at all or surreptitiously as claimed.
We will not allow unscrupulous writers to denigrate the Senate and ridicule the great work that is on-going.”