• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Leadership Newspapers
Read in Hausa
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Leadership Newspapers
No Result
View All Result

National Anthem: AGF Warns Against Legislative Fiat

by Sunday Isuwa
1 year ago
in News
Screenshot

Screenshot

Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram

Minister of justice and the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has urged the National Assembly (NASS) not to pass the law on Nigeria reverting to the old National Anthem through legislative fiat.

Advertisement

His position may have made the move by NASS to expeditiously pass a “Bill for an Act on National Anthem” with the major aim of replacing the current one with the old to suffer a setback yesterday.

Fagbemi warned that such an important bill on the National Anthem should not be done by legislative fiat.

At a public hearing on the bill organised by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, the minister warned that the issue of National Anthem should not be treated with legislative fiat.

He said as commendable as the move by both Chambers of the legislature may be, on enacting law on the National Anthem or replacing the current with the old, Nigerians must be carried along for their required ” buy in”.

RELATED

AbdulRazaq Inspects 49km Road, Says Kwarans Behind Tinubu For Second Term

AbdulRazaq Inspects 49km Road, Says Kwarans Behind Tinubu For Second Term

5 minutes ago
Obi Cubana, Lola Andy, Others To Grace Vaib Slow Juicer

Dee Utensils Partners Obi Cubana To Launch New Product

7 minutes ago

He said: “In some cases, the national anthem emerges from open national competition among interested citizens.  In other instances, the proposed national anthem is subjected to plebiscite or referendum, before its eventual adoption or declaration.

“The essence of the foregoing is to secure the buy-in and confidence of the people and to ensure that the anthem meets their collective aspirations and suits their contemporary socio-political conditions.

“Against the background of the foregoing, I am of the considered opinion that the revered issue of choice of a national item should not come into being only by legislative fiat or presidential proclamation alone

“Consequently, it is my considered view that the decision to change Nigeria’s National Anthem whether by replacing it with the old one or a new one, should be subjected to a wider process of citizen participation through zonal public hearings, resolutions of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), Council of State, National and State Assemblies, etc.

“The outcome of this process is bound to be a true reflection of the wishes of the generality or majority of Nigerians,” he said.

In his submission, the minister of information and national orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi ,  recommended that the scope should be expanded to include a robust issue on national identity rather than limiting it to the change of national anthem.

The minister who was represented by the director-general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr  Lanre Issa-Onilu, said some lines in the old national anthem do not make a complete meaning.

“The issue of the national anthem is just a sub-sect. What we should be looking at is the National Identity Act.

“The challenge we have today is that we do not value national identity, of which the national anthem is one of them. It is not about singing in schools, it is about learning it and imbibing it,” he said.

Also cautioning the National Assembly on expeditious passage of the bill, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), called for wider consultations for Nigerians to accept whatever National Anthem is proposed and buy into it.

According to him, the National Assembly should widen the scope of participation in the process of coming up with such an Act for general acceptability.

He however supported the move to replace the current” Arise O Compatriots ” National Anthem with the “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”, the country started with in October 1960.

 

 


We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →

Join Our WhatsApp Channel




Tags: Lateef Fagbemi
SendShareTweetShare
Previous Post

Children’s Day: IA-Foundation Visits Orphanage, Donates Educational Resources

Next Post

FG, Labour Resume Minimum Wage Talks Today

Sunday Isuwa

Sunday Isuwa

Sunday Isuwa is an award winning journalist with over 15 years of experience. Currently at LEADERSHIP Media Group, he has published thousands of articles that have helped in shaping Democracy, Good Governance in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large. His Twitter handle is @IsuwaSunday 

You May Like

AbdulRazaq Inspects 49km Road, Says Kwarans Behind Tinubu For Second Term
News

AbdulRazaq Inspects 49km Road, Says Kwarans Behind Tinubu For Second Term

2025/08/07
Obi Cubana, Lola Andy, Others To Grace Vaib Slow Juicer
News

Dee Utensils Partners Obi Cubana To Launch New Product

2025/08/07
Rotary Club Launches Maternal, Child Health Outreach At Kuchingoro
News

Rotary Club Launches Maternal, Child Health Outreach At Kuchingoro

2025/08/07
Fubara Orders Contractor To Deliver UNIPORT Convocation Arena In 60 Days 
Education

UNIPORT Senate Elects 3 New Deputy Vice-Chancellors

2025/08/07
Reclaiming Benue’s Pride Of Place In Agriculture
News

Fake Fertiliser: Bauchi Warns Saboteurs, Introduces New Packs

2025/08/07
Kogi Stakeholders Task Federal Gov’t On Ending Benue Killings
News

Tinubu Evolving New Approach To End Killings – Ambassador Eze

2025/08/07
Leadership Conference advertisement

LATEST

AbdulRazaq Inspects 49km Road, Says Kwarans Behind Tinubu For Second Term

Dee Utensils Partners Obi Cubana To Launch New Product

Rotary Club Launches Maternal, Child Health Outreach At Kuchingoro

UNIPORT Senate Elects 3 New Deputy Vice-Chancellors

Fake Fertiliser: Bauchi Warns Saboteurs, Introduces New Packs

Tinubu Evolving New Approach To End Killings – Ambassador Eze

Malnourished Children And Misgovernance In States

Doyin Abiola 1943–2025: A Pen Of Courage Stops Writing

Global Competition: Our Students Made Us Proud, Say Yobe Parents, School

Corrupt Politicians Being Given Top Govt Positions – Emir Sanusi

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.