The Senate has clarified that the ongoing amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC Act does not introduce a new ban on preaching or hawking in commercial vehicles, but merely restates an existing provision already contained in Nigerian law.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Leader of the Senate, the chamber said it was responding to public concerns over reports suggesting that the amendment seeks to prohibit preaching.
According to the Senate, Section 10(4) of the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007, and Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, already classify preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles as offences.
It explained that the provision has existed for nearly two decades, appearing as Item 36 in the Second Schedule to the 2007 Act. Under the proposed amendment, the same provision has simply been renumbered as Item 49 in the Second Schedule.
The Senate stressed that the bill does not outlaw street preaching or restrict religious activities in public spaces.
“It is about the safety of commuters and other road users and is not intended to undermine any religious activity in the public space,” the statement said.
The chamber also clarified that the bill was not sponsored by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
It noted that the legislation is a concurrence bill, having already been amended by the House of Representatives and now awaiting Senate concurrence before it can become law.
The Senate added that the amendment process is still ongoing and encouraged stakeholders to channel any concerns through the appropriate legislative institutions before the bill is concluded.
