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ABUJA, NIGERIA —Nigerian legislation that critics said would have allowed the government to crack down on dissent has been withdrawn.
Supporters said the bill was intended to stop what were seen as subversive activities. But Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of Nigeria's lower chamber of parliament and sponsor of the bill, withdrew it in a statement Wednesday. He said the decision was made in response to public concerns, and after careful consideration of Nigeria's current circumstances.
The Counter Subversion Bill, with 24 clauses, had reached the first reading in parliament - a significant step in Nigeria's legislative process, since it was introduced in late July.
The bill called for a 10-year jail term or a hefty fine for refusing to recite the national anthem and a five-year sentence for erecting an illegal roadblock, proposing illegal curfews or conducting illegal processions.
Damilare Akinola, an Abuja-based human rights activist, called the bill "thoughtless."
"Even before the introduction of the bill, Nigeria's civic space has been stifled," Akinola said. "These are just further attempts to consolidate. So these attempts are not surprising."
The bill said citizens who disobeyed constituted authority could be jailed for three years. It was introduced in the wake of anti-government demonstrations in Nigeria.
Earlier this month, thousands marched in the streets of Nigeria's major cities to demand a reversal of government actions, especially the removal of fuel subsidies.
The protests turned violent when security agents applied excessive force to disperse demonstrators. Amnesty International said 23 people were killed.
Amnesty's Isa Sanusi sayid Nigerian lawmakers are supposed to focus on important matters.
"The whole matter is misplaced, ill-timed and inappropriate, because that legislation is draconian, repressive and adds no value," Sanusi said. "It can possibly be manipulated and used to target people who disagree with the government. It must be completely withdrawn. We want to get assurance that it will not be brought back through the back door. The lawmakers are supposed to focus on addressing corruption, mismanagement, hunger and growing inflation."
Human rights groups often blame Nigerian authorities for trying to enact repressive legislation that shrinks the civic space. In 2019, legislation calling for regulation of social media was dropped after it led to protests.
Authorities often say such legislation is proposed in the interest of national security. Abuja resident Godswill Effiom disagrees.
"I am one of the citizens who kicked against" the bill on allegedly subversive activities, Effiom said. "Let them allow citizens to express themselves. There are better ways to curb all this, not to restrict people from expression. We are in a democratic kind of leadership."
For now, activists and citizens will be monitoring lawmakers' next step.