Penalties for not reciting national….
The House of Representatives has tabled the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, which seeks to impose severe penalties on Nigerians who do not recite the national anthem.
According to the proposed legislation, anyone found guilty of refusing to recite the national anthem will be fined N5 million, sentenced to ten years in prison, or both.
Speaker of the House of Representative, Tajudeen Abbas is sponsoring the Bill, which is scheduled for a second reading to examine its general principles.
The amended bill “stipulates that anyone found guilty of destroying national symbols, refusing to recite the national anthem and pledge, defacing a place of worship with intent to incite violence, or undermining the Federal Government shall face a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both” .
The bill additionally “states that anyone who sets up an illegal roadblock, performs unauthorised traffic duties, imposes an illegal curfew, or organises an unlawful procession will be subject to a fine of N2 million, five years in prison, or both upon conviction” .
In addition, anyone who “forcefully takes over any place of worship, town hall, school, premises, public or private place, arena, or a similar place through duress, undue influence, subterfuge or other similar activities, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N5 million or imprisonment for a term of 10 years or both” .
“A person who professes loyalty, pledges or agrees to belong to an organisation that disregards the sovereignty of Nigeria, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N3 million or imprisonment for a term of four years or both,” the document further stated.
In a recent development, human right Activist Aisha Yusefu said she would rather pay 5M naira that recite the new national Anthem.
“I’d rather pay 5M fine than recite a national anthem imposed on us by Tinubu and colonial masters”
In May, President Bola Tinubu approved bill to reinstate Nigeria’s ancient national anthem, which was removed by a military regime in 1978.
Lillian Jean Williams wrote the newly re-adopted song, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” in 1959, and Frances Berda composed it.
See also: Lyrics of the new national anthem
