SERAP Calls Out Kastina State Government Over Ban On WhatsApp And Facebook

Yesterday, a letter was sent by the Kastina State Ministry of Education, that all schools principals should stop conversing or passing information to each other either on WhatsApp or Facebook. The Ministry said that this will stop the passing of negative comments about the government.

In view of this, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project SERAP had called on the Kastina State Government to reverse the ban on the use of WhatsApp and Facebook in communicating and disseminating information.

According to the body, the ban is an abuse of human rights as It doesn’t respect the standard of freedom of expression.

The body said the ban would ask to disrupt the exchange of ideas in school and individual ability to connect with one another on matters that concern all of them. The body had however promised to take legal actions if the unconstitutional ban is not reversed immediately.

This ban will have a significantly disproportionate impact on the fundamental rights of everyone in the state, including the rights to education, freedom of expression and access to information.
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) December 9, 2020

The ban also fails to meet the standards required under constitutional and international human rights law to limit freedom of expression.

The ban will disrupt the free exchange of ideas in schools and individuals’ ability to connect with one another on matters of shared concern.
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) December 9, 2020

The state Ministry of Education reportedly ordered principals of government schools to abolish all existing Whatsapp groups in their respective schools.

Government workers have also reportedly been asked to avoid the use of the social media platforms.
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) December 9, 2020