Nigeria House of Representatives, National Assembly

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

House of Representatives deliberates and passes National Anthem Bill

Abuja, Nigeria | May 23, 2024 – The House of Representatives on Thursday deliberated upon and passed a bill seeking to alter the National Anthem of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The bill, which stood in the name of the House Leader, Rep. (Prof.) Julius Ihonvbere, sought to revert the Nigeria National Anthem from "Arise O Compatriots" to "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" the previous anthem used during the post-independence period from 1960 to 1978.

Titled: "A Bill for an Act to provide for the National Anthem of Nigeria and for Related Matters (HB. 1470)," the bill among other provisions stipulates that the second stanza of the "Arise O Compatriots" anthem shall be formally recognised as the national prayer to be recited at all state functions.

Furthermore, the bill makes it mandatory for all Primary and Secondary Schools to incorporate the new National Anthem as part of civic education and organise pupils and students to learn it.

The bill underscores the imperative of comprehensive civic education to engender a renewed sense of patriotism and dedication to the principles espoused by the nation's founding fathers.

This historic development occurred during the plenary session of the House, which was presided over by Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the Deputy Speaker. Following deliberations, the bill passed through its first, second, and third readings in the House.

Signed:

Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr.
House Spokesman / Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs

#HouseNGR #HousePlenary #NationalAnthemBill #TodayAtPlenary

This is the old national anthem .
Enjoy it.

Nigeria we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Though tribe and tongue may differ,
In brotherhood we stand,
Nigerians all, and proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.

Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign,
In peace or battle honour’d,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.

O God of all creation,
Grant this our one request,
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed,
And so with peace and plenty
Nigeria may be blessed.

With everything going on in the country, the national anthem is their priority 😙