Reps Panel Fails To Recommend Lifting Of Twitter Ban

The joint committee mandated by the House of Representatives to investigate the ban placed on Twitter by the Federal Government has failed to recommend its lifting.

At the plenary on Thursday, the report of the committee was present by the joint committee.

The committee noted the pros and cons of social media, however, was silent on whether the ban should be lifted or not.

The recommendations are, “That time be allowed for the Federal Government of Nigeria and Twitter to enter into the dialogue process that is already ongoing, so as to create room for amicable settlement on the matter;

Also Read: We’re Supporting Twitter Ban To Protect National Security: Gbajabiamila

“That relevant Government Institutions such as National Broadcasting Commission, Nigeria Communication Satellite, etc., should be alive to their mandate by doing the needful to avoid future occurrence of this nature;

“That the Federal Government should take into cognisance the negative effect of the Twitter suspension on Nigerians who depends on the platform for their livelihood;

“That Federal Government should be proactive in their interface with Twitter so as to come up with timely resolution on the matter;

“That freedom of expression is not absolute anywhere in the world. This is because security and freedom of expression sometimes present contending interests. Therefore, national security must be guaranteed at all times as much as the right to free speech must be protected; and

“That government should always have communicated better with Nigerians when critical decisions are to be made.”