Abass said this in a statement from his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity on Wednesday.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has said that the Counter Subversion Bill (HB. 1652) he sponsored was borrowed from the United Kingdom, Spain and other advanced countries.
Abass said this in a statement from his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity on Wednesday.
The statement titled, ‘Clarification on Counter Subversion Bill,’ noted that the Speaker appreciates the interest Nigerians have so far shown on the Bill, which pertains to our national security.
It said, “The Counter Subversion Bill, 2024 (HB. 1652) was introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, with Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D. as the sponsor. Thus, the Bill is still at the introductory stage.
“The Bill falls within the realm of Nigeria's anti-terrorism framework, and it seeks to address subversive activities by associations, organisations, militias, cults, bandits, and other proscribed groups in Nigeria.
“Similar legislation obtains in other climes with varied appellations. Such countries include the United Kingdom, Spain, India, Turkey, Canada, Australia, among others.
“The Speaker, and by extension the House of Representatives, which is the People's House, welcome robust engagements and discussions from Nigerians on the contents of the Bill, and how best to address the concerns raised.
“By Parliamentary processes and procedures, the Bill would have to be listed for Second Reading, where Members will thoroughly scrutinize its merits and demerits during debate. At this stage, Members can decide to 'kill' or allow the Bill to pass. But if it scales Second Reading, it would be referred to the relevant Committee of the House for further legislative action.
“The Committee must as a matter of responsibility invite the Nigerian public, particularly relevant stakeholders, to a public hearing on the Bill.
“It is expected that citizens would bear their minds either physically or via memoranda on the Bill. Their inputs would form the basis for the Committee’s report, to be laid on the floor of the House.
“After the consideration of the report, the Bill will be passed for the Third Reading and forwarded to the Senate for concurrence.
“If the Senate deems it fit and concurs with the Bill, a clean copy would be transmitted to the President for assent. Mr. President reserves the right to withhold assent to the Bill.
“The Speaker assures Nigerians that the Bill is all-encompassing as it relates to Nigeria's national security and does not target any group or section of the country.”
Abass promised that the Bill, and indeed any other draft legislation before the House, “will pass through all the legislative processes, and Nigerians would have ample opportunity to make their inputs, which will constitute the final consideration (or otherwise) of the Bill”.
However, in a recent development, SaharaReporters reported on Tuesday that the House of Representatives had introduced the Counter Subversion Bill 2024. This proposed legislation stipulates that individuals found guilty of failing to recite the national anthem will face severe penalties, including a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both.
Additionally, the proposed legislation stipulates that individuals who vandalise or destroy national symbols or places of worship shall face identical penalties, including a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both.
The Bill, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, which is set for its second reading, where its general principles will be debated, “stipulates that anyone found guilty of destroying national symbols, refusing to recite the national anthem and pledge, defacing a place of worship with intent to incite violence, or undermining the Federal Government shall face a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both”.
The Bill also “states that anyone who sets up an illegal roadblock, performs unauthorised traffic duties, imposes an illegal curfew, or organises an unlawful procession will be subject to a fine of N2 million, five years in prison, or both upon conviction”.
Also, any person who “forcefully takes over any place of worship, town hall, school, premises, public or private place, arena, or a similar place through duress, undue influence, subterfuge or other similar activities, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N5 million or imprisonment for a term of 10 years or both”.
“A person who professes loyalty, pledges or agrees to belong to an organisation that disregards the sovereignty of Nigeria, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N3 million or imprisonment for a term of four years or both,” it added among others.
Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general elections, earlier described the bill as "buffoonery" and predicted that it will lead to an earlier-than-expected resurgence of the #EndBadGovernance movement.
Reacting to the House of Representatives’ introduction of the Counter Subversion Bill, Sowore in a post on his X account on Wednesday, said, “The buffoonery of this “House of Twerps” is the reason #FearlessInOctober #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria revolt might resume earlier than usual.”
Sowore, in an interview with SaharaReporters, called on the federal lawmakers to promptly withdraw the proposed controversial legislation or face a shutdown of the National Assembly.
“I am asking them to discontinue the bill as soon as possible or face a shutdown of the National Assembly,” he said.