The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, announced the withdrawal of the Counter Subversion Bill and other related draft legislations on Wednesday. The decision was reportedly after a heavy backlash from different citizens in the country.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Krishi, he stated that the decision was made after the speaker had made several consultations with a series of stakeholders in the country and the assessment of the current situation of Nigeria.
The statement also noted that the withdrawal was in line with the clamour made by different voices in the country.
He established that the decision of the speaker to withdraw the bill shows the fact that the decisions made at the national assembly are people-oriented. He has always stood for that.
The media adviser also noted the speaker, who has pledged a commitment to standing by every bill that speaks for Nigeria, will not stand by any legislation that is against the Nigerian people. He also noted that the speaker has always been a man who listens to the citizenry, establishing that the decision has reflected his commitment to the cause.
The statement acknowledges the concerns raised by the people and the attention the presentation has drawn in the past weeks. He further pledges that the people’s interests will always be put first, keeping away everything that will take the peace and stability of the country away.
“The public is hereby notified of the withdrawal of the Counter Subversion Bill and other related ones introduced on July 23, 2024,” he added.
The Counter Subversion Bill 2024 has been the talking point on social media since the bill scaled the first reading and went to the second, where legislators will debate the bill’s principles. The aim of the bill was to give stiff penalties on Nigerians who fail to recite the newly approved national anthem or abuse politicians or community leaders.
The bill had stipulated a five to 10 years prison sentence and a fine of up to N5 million if found guilty.
The bill was first introduced on July 23, 2024.
