Senators will kill ‘Hate Speech Bill’ if Nigerians reject it – Spokesman

Senate spokesman, Senator Godiya Akwashiki (APC, Narasara North), on Wednesday said the ‘Hate Speech bill’ would be ‘killed’ by other Senators at the second reading if it will bring hardship and crises on Nigerians.

Akwashiki disclosed this while responding to questions from reporters, saying the bill has many process to undergo before it becomes a law.

“We have a process of enacting a law or an Act, either in the State Assembly or the National Assembly and the process is one. A bill is just a proposal before the National Assembly.

“It has to go through three or four processes. Process number one is for the Bill to undergo first reading, whereby the Leader of the House would just mention it for first reading in the House.

“The second process that follows is the second reading of the Bill. The Bill has to be subjected to debate by other Senators and once that Bill scales second reading, it has to go to the Committee then come back to the House again.

“So, if it is a Bill that will represent the wishes and interests of the people, it would scale the second reading. If it is a bill that would create hardship, or bring crisis for the people of Nigeria, I want to assure that it will be killed on the floor of the Senate by other Senators when it comes for second reading.

“So, I want to urge Nigerians to exercise patience with the Senate because it is not wise or legally right for me to discuss a bill that has not been mentioned for the second time on the floor of the Senate.

“It is just like you are trying to discuss somebody’s sickness when you have not approached a doctor. I want to urge you to be patient, when the Bill comes for second reading, then you will know where the Bill is heading,” Akwashiki said.

The Bill titled: “National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speeches (Establishment, etc) Bill, 2019” was sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and Senator representing Niger North, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.