The Senate has begun plans to eradicate hate speech in Nigeria as the Red Chamber introduced a bill which seeks to establish a federal government agency to check hate speech in the country.
The bill, sponsored by a former Senate spokesperson, who is now the Deputy Senate Whip, Sabi Abdullahi, passed first reading on the floor of the red chamber on Tuesday.
It is titled, “National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speeches (Earn, etc) Bill 2019.
The Federal government has been waging a relentless war against fake news and hate speech which the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed referred to as Siamese evil twin. The step by the Senate on Tuesday is a strong confirmation of the seriousness of the government to tackle the menace.
A similar bill sponsored by Abdullahi in the 8th Senate prescribed among others, death by hanging for anyone found guilty of the offence.
