The Senate has clarified that the proposed amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) (Establishment) Act, 2007, does not introduce a ban on street preaching, insisting that the provision attracting public attention has existed in law for nearly two decades.
Gatekeepers News reports that the clarification was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the media office of the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, following public concerns over reports suggesting that the amendment sought to prohibit preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles.
According to the statement, the restriction on preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles has been part of the FRSC Act since 2007 and is also reflected in Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2012.
The media office explained that Section 10(4) of the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007, already classifies preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles as offences, adding that the current amendment merely renumbers the provision from Item 36 in the Second Schedule of the Act to Item 49 without altering its substance.
It stressed that the proposed legislation is aimed solely at improving road safety and protecting commuters and other road users, rather than restricting religious activities in public spaces.
“The Bill, therefore, does not outlaw preaching on the streets as some interests have claimed in different fora. It is about the safety of commuters and other road users and not intended to undermine any religious activity in the public space,” the statement read.
The Senate also rejected claims that Bamidele sponsored the amendment bill, clarifying that the legislation originated in the House of Representatives before being transmitted to the Senate for concurrence, as required under the 1999 Constitution.
“The Bill is not an initiative of Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, CON. Rather, it is a concurrence bill first amended by the House of Representatives,” the media office stated.
“As required by the 1999 Constitution, the Bill requires the concurrence of the Senate before it can become effective.”
The statement added that the legislative process is still ongoing and encouraged stakeholders with concerns about the proposed amendment to engage the appropriate legislative channels before the bill is finalised.
