The Senate has said the proposed amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act does not seek to prohibit street preaching or religious activities in public places.
In a clarification issued through the Office of the Senate Leader, the upper chamber said the disputed provision is limited to preaching and hawking inside commercial vehicles as a road-safety measure.
The Senate stated that the restriction is not newly created by the amendment. It pointed to Section 10(4) of the FRSC (Establishment) Act 2007 and Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations 2012 as the existing legal basis for the provision.
According to the clarification, the item previously appeared as Item 36 in the Second Schedule to the Act but became Item 49 following the restructuring of the legislation.
The Senate also said the amendment originated in the House of Representatives and is before the upper chamber as a concurrence bill. The legislative process has not yet been completed.
Members of the public and interested groups were encouraged to present concerns through the appropriate National Assembly channels while consideration of the bill continues.
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