House of Reps members urges Army to stop implementation of local language policy

The move by the Nigerian Army to implement the new local language policy has been kicked against on Wednesday by the House of Representatives

The House urged the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, a lieutenant general, to stop the implementation of the policy.

The House noted that the policy sought to compel all personnel to be proficient in three major Nigerian languages: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba by December 2018.

The resolution was sequel to the unanimous adoption of a motion, sponsored by two members, Abiante Dagomie and Diri Douye.

Moving the motion, Mr. Dagomie reiterated the need for the Army to continue with the practice of communicating in English language in a multi-lingual Army.

The following reasons were raised to counter the policies:

The policy would cause fractionalisation and marginalisation in the army:

One of the representatives, Mr. Dagomie said that the policy would infringe on the fundamental rights of the minority languages in the country, and would cause fractionalisation and marginalisation in the Army.

The policy would infringe on the rights of minorities:

Nigeria is home to languages, numbering about 400 and the language gives insight into the personality and culture of the Nigerian people.

It is believed such a local language policy proposed by the Nigerian Army would infringe on the fundamental rights of the minorities.

The policy would lead to discrimination and exclusion from employment opportunities:

According to the Rep members if this situation, should continue unabated, it will lead to discrimination and exclusion from employment opportunities, promotion and ambush of the legitimate aspirations of overwhelming numbers of non-native speakers of Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa in the Army.

The policy is non integrating and unprogressive:

The Nigerian society is heterogeneous and as such, in contemplating policies, care must be taken to steer discourse to what is integrating, progressive and amenable to ensure mass involvement in the national development and democratic processes rather than pandering to primordial or tribal biases

Policy is against globalisation and international language:

The policy flies in the face of an increasingly globalising world where proficiency in an international language is the current inclination.

When we all use the same language, we have a common understanding of precisely what we mean and what is expected.’

The Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, presided over the plenary, referred the motion to the Committee on Army to interface with the Chief of Army Staff on the policy with a view to ensuring a stop to it.

The committee is to report back in four weeks.