Count me out on social media regulation bill, says Seyi Makinde

* As Oyo Assembly backs governor, kicks against move to regulate social media

THE Oyo State House of Assembly has expressed its disapproval of the efforts by the Federal government to regulate social media in Nigeria.

This was revealed by Speaker of the Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, via a tweet on Tuesday.

He said the state’s legislature will kick against restriction of freedom of expression.

This comes as the federal government is seriously pushing for the regulation of social media following the recent #ENDSARS protest.

The government had claimed that the protest was organised and people were mobilised through the social media.

The government also added that the protest would be quelled days after it started but for the social media which was deployed by promoters of the protest to fuel the agitation.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, claimed that the federal government must regulate it to prevent the spread of hate speech.

He said the social media was the platform of choice for those, who propagated fake news, adding that there was an urgent need for a national policy to curb excesses and misuse.

In a similar vein, the governor of the state, Seyi Makinde, has made  a clarification on the report that south-west leaders are backing the regulation of social media

He stated that contrary to media reports, his position is that since there’s already an extensive Cybercrime Act, there’s no need for any other bills to regulate social media.

Governor Makinde added that should anyone sponsor a bill to regulate social media, he should be categorically counted out.

He tweeted; I also clarified the misrepresentation of the position of the Southwest leaders on the so-called social media bill. Contrary to media reports, our position remains that since we already have an extensive Cybercrime Act, 2015 we don’t need any other bills to regulate social media.

Should anyone choose to sponsor a social media regulation bill, I should be categorically counted out.”