The Senate has issued a clarification regarding public misgivings over the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act Amendment Bill, stating that the proposed legislation does not introduce a new prohibition on preaching or hawking inside commercial vehicles.
In an official statement released on Monday by the Office of the Senate Leader, the upper chamber emphasized that preaching and hawking in transit have been codified off-limit offenses under existing Nigerian law for nearly two decades.
Key Clarifications & Legal Framework
- Existing Statutory Laws: The ban is already codified under Section 10(4) of the FRSC Establishment Act (2007) and Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2012.
- Renumbering, Not New Legislation: The Senate clarified that the amendment process simply renumbers the provision from Item 36 to Item 49 in the Second Schedule of the Act.
- Focus on Road Safety: The chamber dismissed rumors that the bill targets religious freedom or bans street preaching, clarifying that the rule strictly addresses commuter safety and driver distraction inside commercial vehicles.
- Bill Sponsorship & Origin: The bill originated in the House of Representatives and is currently before the Senate as a concurrence bill in line with constitutional procedures, rather than being sponsored directly by Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele as previously reported.
“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 noted.
The Senate noted that the legislative process remains ongoing and encouraged public stakeholders and interested parties to present their inputs through formal parliamentary channels before final passage.
