This is stated in a press briefing delivered on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, as their response to a bill sponsored by Emeka Chinedu Martins of the House of Representatives, prescribing a five-year jail term for unlawful protesters.
Activists under the platform of the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) have raised the alarm over the National Assembly's plan to make protest one of the offences punishable under Nigerian criminal law.
This is stated in a press briefing delivered on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, as their response to a bill sponsored by Emeka Chinedu Martins of the House of Representatives, prescribing a five-year jail term for unlawful protesters.
The group described the bill which has been passed for a second reading by the lower chamber of the National Assembly as anti-democratic and a desperate way to end freedom of expression in the country.
According to the statement, the bill seeks to criminalise peaceful protests and cow Nigerians into submission under the guise of protecting public property, which must be rejected by Nigerians.
The group also stressed that the right to peaceful protest is inalienable and guaranteed by domestic and international statutes, and Nigerians must be allowed to exercise their right to peaceful protests,
It demanded that the “National Assembly should stop further deliberation forthwith on the obnoxious bill to criminalize right to protest.
“National Assembly should henceforth abandon the route of undemocratic legislation which undermines the rights of Nigerians.
“The National Assembly should demand greater sense of responsibility and due diligence from the security agencies; particularly the police which must be held to account for the protection of public property during protests.
“The hallowed chamber should prioritize issues of security, electricity, education health, corruption, empowerment and fight against poverty etc. which are the critical challenge Nigerians are facing at the moment.”