The Senate has clarified that the proposed amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act does not create a fresh prohibition on preaching or hawking in commercial vehicles, but merely retains provisions that have existed in law for years.
In a statement released on Monday by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Leader of the Senate, the upper legislative chamber said it was responding to public concerns and misconceptions surrounding the amendment.
According to the Senate, Section 10(4) of the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007, alongside Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, already classifies preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles as traffic offences.
It explained that the provision originally appeared as Item 36 in the Second Schedule of the 2007 Act and has remained part of the law for almost two decades.
The Senate noted that the ongoing amendment simply renumbers the provision, placing it under Item 49 of the Second Schedule without altering its substance.
It also dismissed claims that the bill seeks to prohibit street preaching, stressing that the legislation is aimed solely at enhancing the safety of passengers and other road users rather than restricting religious activities in public spaces.
The chamber further clarified that the amendment did not originate from the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, explaining that it is a concurrence bill previously passed by the House of Representatives and now awaiting Senate approval before it can be transmitted for presidential assent.
The Senate added that the legislative process is still underway and encouraged interested stakeholders to channel their observations and recommendations through the appropriate institutions before the amendment is finalised.
BACKSTORY:
Public concern emerged after reports suggested that the National Assembly was considering a fresh ban on preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles through the proposed amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act. The reports triggered widespread reactions, with some Nigerians expressing fears that the legislation could restrict religious freedom.
In response, the Senate clarified that the provision is not new. It explained that Section 10(4) of the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007, as well as Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, have long classified preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles as traffic offences in the interest of passenger and road safety.
The upper chamber also stressed that the current amendment merely retains and renumbers the existing provision as part of a broader review of the FRSC Act. It further noted that the bill originated in the House of Representatives and is still undergoing the legislative process, urging stakeholders to channel any concerns through the appropriate legislative procedures before the amendment is finalised.
