The House of Representatives has introduced the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, which aims to impose stringent penalties on Nigerians who fail to recite the national anthem.
The proposed legislation seeks to punish individuals who refuse to recite the national anthem with a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both.
The bill also stipulates penalties for destroying national symbols or places of worship, imposing an illegal curfew, or organizing an unlawful procession. Additionally, it seeks to punish individuals who forcefully take over public or private spaces, or profess loyalty to organizations deemed detrimental to Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The bill is sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and is set for its second reading, where its general principles will be debated.
If passed, the legislation would aim to promote national unity and patriotism, but critics argue it may infringe on individual freedoms and rights.
President Bola Tinubu recently signed into law a bill to revert to Nigeria’s old national anthem, which was dropped by a military government in 1978.
The newly re-adopted anthem, which begins “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” was written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda.
