Reps summon Lai Mohammed over Twitter ban

By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The House of Representatives has invited the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to appear before the House to brief on the objectives, intent and duration of the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria.
Announcing the summon on the floor of the House during the plenary of Tuesday, June 8, 2021, Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said it was part of its obligations under the constitution and its moral duty to the Nigerian people.
The Speaker mandated the House Committees on Communication, Justice, Information and Culture, and National Security and Intelligence to begin  investigation into the suspension placed on Twitter by the Federal Government, as well as the circumstances that led to it.
In addition, the committees are to also investigate the legal authority for the ban and are expected to report back within 10 days to the House to guide it on further action on the matter.
Gbajabiamila, while commenting on the development, stated that the suspension on Twitter in Nigeria had generated fierce debate, with members inundated with questions about the decision.
He said the House of Representatives recognises that Twitter, like other social media networks, is an important tool for communication and commerce in Nigeria, “particularly amongst the younger generation who have used these networks for enterprise and innovation with great success.
“The House also recognises that as social media has been a tool for good, it can also be a tool for bad actors.
”As such, the government has a legitimate interest in ensuring that these platforms are not used to commit vile actions against individuals and the state.”
He said that the proper role of the legislature in circumstances was first to peel back the layers of the decision-making process to unravel the issues until it developed an understanding of the why and the how of executive decisions.
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