The Nigeria house of representatives on Thursday, started the acceleration of a bill to revert the country to the old national anthem, ‘Nigeria we hail thee.’
The bill sponsored by the majority leader of the house, Julius Ihonbvere, was read for the first, second and third time on the floor of the house before passage.
The passage of the bill came despite oppositions by the minority leader of the house, Kingsley Chinda and some other lawmakers.
At the Senate, the legislation entitled “A Bill for an Act to provide for National Anthem, 2024” and sponsored by Bamidele Opeyemi, the Senate leader was read for the second time after lawmakers supported it during plenary.
The senate leader argued that the anthem was in tandem with president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for the country and will ensure unity.
Another proponent of the bill, Tahir Monguno, the Lawmaker representing Borno North said the Bill was apt, noting that the current anthem is a product of a military junta and does not reflect the aspirations of Nigerians.
In his submission, Jimoh Ibrahim, while supporting the Bill noted that “if Nigeria we get the National anthem right, we will get Nigeria right.”
The bill was adopted after the second reading and a public hearing is expected to get inputs from the public.
