National Anthem: Reps Push for N5m Fine, 10-Year Prison Term

Reps Propose 10-Year Jail Term for Not Reciting National Anthem

N5m Fine, 10-year prison term for National anthem defaulters...

Nigeria considers new law with severe penalties for national anthem disrespect, symbol damage, and other crimes, including fines up to N5 million and prison terms up to 10 years.

Nigeria's House of Representatives has introduced the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, aimed at enforcing severe penalties for non-compliance with national anthem recitation. The proposed legislation mandates a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both for individuals who refuse to recite the national anthem.

The Bill, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, also imposes the same penalties on those found guilty of damaging national symbols or defacing places of worship with intent to incite violence.

The Counter Subversion Bill is poised for its second reading, where lawmakers will debate and discuss its general principles, paving the way for further consideration and potential enactment into law.

The proposed Bill outlines severe penalties for various offenses, including:

• Refusing to recite the national anthem and pledge, damaging national symbols, defacing a place of worship with intent to incite violence, or undermining the Federal Government, which would attract a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both upon conviction.

Additionally, the Bill seeks to penalize:

• Setting up illegal roadblocks, performing unauthorized traffic duties, imposing illegal curfews, or organizing unlawful processions, with a fine of N2 million, five years in prison, or both upon conviction.

“Also, any person 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, the bill reads.

“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,” it also added among others.

In May, President Bola Tinubu enacted a law reinstating Nigeria's original national anthem, which had been replaced by a military government in 1978. The restored anthem, penned by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda, begins with the lyrics “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”