House of Reps Proposes ₦5 Million Fine, 10-Year Jail for Refusing to Recite National Anthem
The House of Representatives has proposed the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, which suggests severe penalties for Nigerians who do not recite the national anthem, vandalize national symbols, or deface places of worship.
Sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the bill is poised for its second reading, where its fundamental principles will be debated. If passed, it would impose substantial fines and lengthy prison sentences for a range of offenses that threaten national unity and respect for the country’s symbols.
Under the proposed legislation, Nigerians who refuse to recite the national anthem would face a hefty fine of ₦5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both. This punishment also extends to Nigerians found guilty of destroying national symbols or defacing places of worship with the intent to incite violence. The bill mandates similar penalties for those who disrupt public order by setting up illegal roadblocks, performing unauthorized traffic duties, or Conducting gatherings that violates legal requirements
A key component of the bill is its focus on loyalty to national sovereignty, the bill targets individuals who pledge allegiance to organizations that weaken Nigeria’s sovereignty, proposing fines of ₦3 million or imprisonment for up to four years for such offenses.
Additionally, the bill addresses other provocative acts, including the forceful takeover of places of worship or public spaces. Perpetrators of these acts would face fines of ₦2 million, up to five years in prison, or both.
The introduction of this bill comes in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s recent reinstatement of Nigeria’s old national anthem in May 2024, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” a move aimed to boost national pride by bringing back Nigeria’s former national anthem.
