Senate Clarifies FRSC Bill, Says Street Preaching Not Prohibited

The Senate has clarified that the proposed amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) (Establishment) Act, 2007 does not seek to ban street preaching, insisting that reports suggesting otherwise are based on a misinterpretation of existing provisions of the law.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Leader of the Senate, the upper chamber said the ongoing amendment to the FRSC Act merely retains provisions that have existed in the law since 2007 regarding preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles.

According to the statement, public concerns over the purported proscription of preaching in commercial vehicles stem from a misunderstanding of the legislation, as the relevant provisions are already contained in the current Act.

The Senate explained that preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles are offences under Section 10(4) of the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, 2007 and Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR), 2012.

It noted that the provisions were originally listed as Item 36 in the Second Schedule to the Act and have only been renumbered as Item 49 in the proposed amendment.

“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 is not intended to undermine any religious activity in the public space,” the statement said.

The Senate also dismissed claims linking the amendment to the Leader of the Senate, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, stressing that the legislation did not originate from him.

It explained that the bill was first amended and passed by the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate as a concurrence bill.

According to the statement, under the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, concurrence by the Senate is required before the bill can be forwarded for presidential assent.

The upper chamber further stated that the amendment process remains ongoing and urged members of the public and other stakeholders with concerns about the bill to channel their observations through the appropriate legislative processes before its final passage.

The Senate reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and inclusive lawmaking, assuring Nigerians that public participation remains an integral part of the legislative process.

It maintained that the objective of the relevant provision is to enhance road safety by protecting commuters and other road users, rather than restricting religious freedoms or activities in public spaces.