Counter Subversion Bill not targeted at any group, says Abbas

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has denied claims that the Counter Subversion Bill is targeted at muzzling some groups in the country.

The Speaker said that the draft legislation which is still at introductory stage in the lower legislative chamber seeks to address subversive activities by associations, organisations, militias, cults, bandits, and other proscribed groups in Nigeria.

Abbas who is the sponsor of the proposed legislation explained that it falls within the realm of Nigeria’s anti-terrorism framework, as similar legislation obtains in other climes like the United Kingdom, Spain, India, Turkey, Canada, Australia with varied appellations.

The Speaker in a statement by his aide on media and publicity, Mr. Musa Abdullahi Krishi, welcomed the engagements and discussions from Nigerians on the contents of the Bill, and how best to address the concerns raised.

He assured Nigerians that the Bill which would surely go through legislative processes is all-encompassing as it relates to Nigeria’s national security and does not target any group or section of the country.

Abbas 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.

“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,” he said.

“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 Counter Subversion Bill, 2024 (HB. 1652) was introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, coincidentally when organisers of the recently held nationwide protests against bad governance were perfecting their plots.