The Senate, on Tuesday, approved a bill to change the current national anthem titled “Arise O Compatriots” to the old national anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
The bill passed its third reading after the upper chamber considered the report of its Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, and Federal Character, and Intergovernmental Affairs.
The bill, entitled “National Anthem Bill, 2024,” was passed for the third reading.
The Senate passed the bill amidst stakeholder misgivings, including objections from Lateef Fagbemi, the Auditor-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who advised against hasty passage and stressed the need for wider consultation. The bill was read for the first and second time last Thursday at the Senate. It also received an accelerated hearing at the lower house, where it was read for the first, second, and third time.
The bill will be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent. If signed into law, it will be the first time Nigeria’s national anthem will be given legal backing. Mongonu Tahir, the Senator representing Borno North, while presenting the report of the committee during plenary, informed that the bill seeks to provide a legal framework for the national anthem “so that it can bite with all the legal powers embedded in it.”
He clarified that the bill, despite the concerns raised by the AGF, does not need to be subjected to a wider process of citizen participation through zonal public hearings, resolutions of the Federal Executive Council, Council of State, National and State Assemblies, etc. He insisted that the bill is an ordinary bill, not a constitutional amendment, and only requires it to be read first, second, and third time after a public hearing.
Presenting the committee’s report, Monguno stated that the new national anthem is apt as it represents the country’s people, culture, values, and aspirations.
“The bill is in tandem with the spirit of unity. It will undoubtedly inspire a zeal for patriotism and cooperation. It will promote cultural heritage. Changing the national anthem will chart a path to greater unity”, Tahir said.
He then recommended that the bill be passed. The Senate resolved into the committee of the whole to consider the report. Afterwards, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the bill to a voice vote, and lawmakers supported it. The Senate President also noted that the AGF is not a lawmaker and does not have a full understanding of how bills are passed. The bill was consequently read for the third time and passed.
