Tinubu Faces Legal Wrath For National Anthem Reversion: Lawyers Ready To Sue

Tinubu Faces Legal Wrath For National Anthem Reversion: Lawyers Ready To Sue

The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), a civil society group, has announced its intention to initiate legal proceedings against President Bola Tinubu regarding the recently enacted National Anthem Act 2024………..CONTINUE READING

According to Naija News, President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law on Wednesday, reinstating the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

However, the reintroduction of the old national anthem has elicited diverse reactions among Nigerians, with stakeholders urging for thorough consultation before such a decision is made.

In a statement released on Friday, ALDRAP’s secretary, Tonye Jaja, asserted that the enactment of the National Anthem Act failed to meet constitutional standards.

The group contended that the public was not given the opportunity to contribute, a process which was allowed during the enactment of the previous national anthem in 1978. Additionally, the bill was not formally transmitted from the president to the Senate president and the speaker of the House of Representatives.

The statement read in part, “No public hearing was conducted before the enactment of the said legislation as required under Section 60 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

“Members of the public were not afforded the chance to make their contributions, as was the case when the previous national anthem was enacted in 1978.

“There was no official transmission of the bill from the president to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives.

“The expenses related to the National Anthem Act, 2024 (dated May 29, 2024, and other dates), are not included in the Budget of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Act, 2024 (as confirmed by the accountant-general of the federation), and hence the said National Anthem Act, 2024, should be deemed illegal.”

The organization stressed that the costs associated with implementing the new national anthem, including manpower, updating official documents, and related expenses, would impose a significant burden on ordinary citizens, particularly without a corresponding increase in income.

Other individuals named in the case include the president, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Senate President

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