Africa Press-Nigeria:
Civil Society groups under the aegis of Citizens Coalition Against Impunity and Injustice have threatened a massive protest if the National Assembly does not allow the views of Nigerians concerning the infectious diseases bill to count.
Speaking at a One-Day Civil Society/Media Round table on the Infectious Disease Bill currently been debated at the National Assembly, held in Jos, the Plateau State Capital, supported by Equity International Initiative, an Executive Director with the organization, Comrade Chris Iyama, said the lawmakers were the people’s representatives and should listen to them.
Iyama said that the lawmakers should consult widely with their constituents to know what they feel before passing the bill, otherwise, it may be efforts in futility.
“The lawmakers were sent there by the people, we have every right for them to listen to us.
‘’The timing of the bill is not right, they should wait when Nigeria is completely healed of this COVID-19 fiasco,’’ he said.
The Executive Director added that, “the feelings of many Nigerians is that the bill should be dropped, otherwise Nigerians would be forced to protest against it”.
An Executive Director with the Civil Liberties Organisation, Comrade Steve Aluko said, “Laws should be a fair representation of the feelings of Nigerians and not the other way round.
Aluko maintained that, “We must ask why the National Assembly is rushing to present a bill when the pandemic is on, when a vaccination is not gotten.”
