Reps seek 10-year jail term, N5m fine for abuse of national symbols

The House of Representatives has introduced the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, which seeks to impose stringent penalties on Nigerians who fail to recite the national anthem.

According to the proposed legislation, anyone found guilty of refusing to recite the national anthem shall be fined N5 million, face a 10-year prison sentence, or both.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that anyone who destroys a national symbol or defaces a place of worship will be subject to the same punishment.

The bill, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, is set for its second reading, during which its general principles will be debated.

The bill “stipulates that anyone found guilty of destroying national symbols, refusing to recite the national anthem or pledge, defacing a place of worship with the intent to incite violence, or undermining the Federal Government shall face a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both.”

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It also “states that anyone who sets up an illegal roadblock, performs unauthorized traffic duties, imposes an illegal curfew, or organizes an unlawful procession will be subject to a fine of N2 million, five years in prison, or both upon conviction.”

Moreover, any person who “forcefully takes over any place of worship, town hall, school, premises, public or private space, arena, or similar location through duress, undue influence, subterfuge, or other means commits an offense and is liable upon conviction to a fine of N5 million or imprisonment for a term of 10 years, or both.”

The bill further states that “a person who professes loyalty to, pledges allegiance to, or agrees to belong to an organization that disregards the sovereignty of Nigeria commits an offense and is liable upon conviction to a fine of N3 million or imprisonment for a term of four years, or both.”

In May, President Bola Tinubu signed into law a bill to revert to Nigeria’s old national anthem, which had been dropped by a military government in 1978. The newly re-adopted anthem, which begins with “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” was written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda.