Senate Says FRSC Bill Only Reinforces Existing Preaching Restriction

The Senate has clarified that the proposed amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Establishment Act, 2007, does not introduce a fresh ban on preaching or hawking inside commercial vehicles, following public concerns over the bill.

According to the upper legislative chamber, preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles have long been recognised as offences under existing laws, particularly Section 10(4) of the FRSC Establishment Act and Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2012.

The Senate explained that the provision, which was previously listed as Item 36 in the Second Schedule of the Act, has only been renumbered as Item 49 in the current amendment exercise.

In a statement released on Monday by the Office of the Senate Leader, the chamber noted that the provision has remained part of Nigerian law since the FRSC Establishment Act came into force in 2007.

The Senate also refuted claims suggesting that the amendment bill seeks to outlaw street preaching or limit religious activities in public places.

“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 upper chamber further clarified that the amendment bill was not sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, contrary to reports circulating in some quarters.

According to the Senate, the bill originated in the House of Representatives and is currently before the Senate as a concurrence bill, in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

The chamber emphasised that the legislative process is still underway and encouraged individuals and groups with concerns about the bill to present their views through the appropriate legislative channels before its eventual passage.

The Senate reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and public participation, stressing that the proposed amendment is designed to strengthen road safety regulations and improve the protection of commuters and other road users across the country.