Abuja – The House of Representatives is proposing a stringent new law that would see Nigerians who refuse to recite the national anthem jailed for 10 years and fined N5 million.
The proposed Counter Subversion Bill 2024, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, is currently awaiting its second reading, where lawmakers will debate its core principles.
If passed into law, the bill would impose hefty penalties on individuals found guilty of various offenses against the state. Beyond the punishment for those who decline to recite the national anthem, the legislation also targets those who vandalize national symbols or places of worship. Such individuals would face the same severe consequences.
The bill further outlines penalties for other infractions, including setting up illegal roadblocks, unauthorized traffic control, imposing unlawful curfews, and organizing unauthorized processions. Offenders could be imprisoned for five years and fined N2 million.
In addition, forcefully taking over public or private spaces and pledging allegiance to groups that challenge Nigeria’s sovereignty are also offenses under the proposed law, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a N5 million fine.
It’s worth noting that the bill comes shortly after President Bola Tinubu reinstated the original Nigerian national anthem, which had been replaced during military rule. The anthem, penned by Lillian Jean Williams and composed by Frances Berda, now begins with the iconic line, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
