NewStats: 3,263,582 , 8,180,601 topics. Date: Friday, 06 June 2025 at 03:23 PM 1a435r

‘Unconstitutional’: Lawyers to sue Tinubu, NASS over reintroduction of old National Anthem

The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners, ALDRAP, a civil society organization comprising lawyers, has announced that it is filing a lawsuit at the Federal High Court to challenge the newly signed National Anthem Act, 2024, which led to the reintroduction of the old National Anthem, ‘Nigeria we hail thee’.


ALDRAP, which announced the decision in a statement signed by Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja, its Secretary, on Friday, said the enactment of the law which ushered in the new national anthem did not follow laid down constitutional provisions.

According to the statement, “The lawsuit would be challenging the National Anthem Act, 2024, because of the following reasons:

“No public hearing was held before the said legislation was enacted as required under Section 60 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

“ of the public were not invited to make their contributions, as was done when the other National Anthem was enacted in the year 1978.

“There was no letter of transmission of the said Bill from the President to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, National Assembly.


“The expenditures associated with the National Anthem Act, 2024 (which was done on 29th May 2024 and on other dates) are not captured in the Budget of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Act, 2024 (as can be attested to by the ant-General of the Federation) and therefore the said National Anthem Act, 2024, should be declared illegal.”

ALDRAP added that the said National Anthem Act, 2024 should be declared illegal because it would cost enormous amounts of money and expenses on citizens to comply with the new law.

According to the group, the huge financial cost would be incurred in the form of man-hours, changes to official documents and other associated costs of learning the new national anthem, which it said would be too exorbitant on ordinary citizens without any corresponding increase in their income.

Stating the grounds for the lawsuit, the statement added, “Attorney-General of Bendel State vs. Attorney-General of the Federation (1981) is the major grounds of our application: any law that fails to comply with each stage of the legislative procedures of law-making as prescribed under the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, would be declared null and void and of no effect.”

According to the statement, the Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners, ALDRAP, is the plaintiff, while the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Clerk to the National Assembly, National wages and Salaries Commission, Revenue and Fiscal Allocation Commission, and the ant-General of the Federation, are the respondents.

DAILY POST reports that Tinubu had, on May 29th signed the National Anthem Act, 2024, into law, thereby reintroducing the old national anthem, ‘Nigeria we hail thee’ as Nigeria’s national anthem.

The development has generated controversy, with several Nigerians questioning the need to change the national anthem, particularly at a time the country is faced with pressing economic and security challenges.

A former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, vowed that she would never sing the reintroduced old national anthem.

Amid the disgust and outrage being expressed by Nigerians who are kicking against the decision to dump ‘Arise oh compatriots’ for ‘Nigeria we hail thee’, the President, Tinubu, has explained that the reintroduction of the old national anthem was his priority.

Tinubu made the assertion during a meeting with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, at the State House in Abuja, according to a statement issued by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale.

“Let me allude to something that happened yesterday. The change of national anthem, ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’. Some people say, okay, say what? Is that your priority? It’s my priority. I agree with the National Assembly,” Tinubu said, in apparent response to criticisms trailing the adoption of the old national anthem.

https://dailypost.ng/2024/05/31/its-illegal-lawyers-group-to-sue-tinubu-nass-over-reintroduction-of-old-national-anthem/

It's a pity,Tinubu and APshit government are taking us 60 years backward 🤔

Tinubu is taking Nigerians backward instead of forward

What an innefectual buffoon he is ...

That legislative action which allowed the anthem of a nation changed without consultations with the contituents is a rape on democracy

Unconstitutional or not, changing the national anthem is a waste of time and resources when there are more pressing issues in the country, Mr. Tinubu.

Tinubu said reintroduction of old national anthem has been his priority. What a failure of a man

In which court?

Which Judge go rule against Ebola personal priority?

You guys think that state capture is a joke

APC na one chance 😂😂😂

I would prefer to sue the Federal Government for the high unemployment rate and the lack of foresight in industrialization.

Useless government

Ok naaa

Hmmm
This is one of the reasons why a rubber stamped legislature is an anathema in a democracy and an albatross on the country that has imbibed the culture of voting criminals and suspected criminals with humongous corruption cases on their necks into high public offices of trust and power.
Such individuals ultimately become puppets and carpet worshippers in a bid to stave off the request to for the (mis)use of their time in office.
It is fast becoming a legislative norm at the highest cadre for the legislature to allow itself be made a mockery and caricature.
We now hear of bills scaling first reading, second reading, public hearing and age in 24hrs!! No scrutiny, no public input, no gauging of the mood of the nation, nothing. An unjust and unnatural law is no law at all.
The nation needs independent-minded lawmakers who will ensure that their leaders answer to them alone, and can also serve as a bulwark for the executive whenever it attempts to transcend itself into a monarchy.
Unfortunately, such spirited individuals are in high demand but low supply in nation Nigeria. Instead it's Ahitophels, Hamans, Micaiahs and Balaams who adorn our legislative halls to pollute it.
God Save Nigeria!!

Gaping Nigeria hole.



APshit are rapist



Baba oto!

Nigeria will continue chasing shadows as long as Apc remains in government.

They didn't use them for removal of fuel subsidy... Dey play

Inukwa ooooo

People even have time for this crazy leaders.... Me I'm sha not learning any old national anthem

Do you think e go work?

Sue the legislators first na.

Make the lawyer go rest. National anthem is not Nigeria problem.

Tinubu is a master of political distraction and the anthem is a distraction.

This lawyer sef, can also be working for Tinubu to create the same distraction.

Ebinpawa

Let me send you Nairalanders juju to be able to know this national anthem chapchap na only 15k.
me if you are interested.

But seriously we the people need to really sue Tinubu.. I see no reason why they need to change the national anthem except our leaders are just feeling guilty and doing contrary to what the anthem said..

Not sure they’ll make any headway in the suit.

Wow, I cant believe we have time and resources to sue over a national anthem but not to fix our economy...makes perfect sense.

Jobless lawyer

Pressure everywhere

I only pity those who still believe in this insane government. The priority of a president is to change anthems when 95% of his citizens are wallowing in abject poverty by deliberately lowering their purchasing powers.

Wifes are now olosho, crime rate is on the increase and the prexy way of solving myriads of these problems is anthem change. What a buffoon and failure.

Enough of:

Trials and error government
Push and start regime
Thunder ⚡ fires Tinupoo danu danu

Things dey increase,
Una no do anything
Poor man dey suffer,
Una no do anything

Just national anthem this mumu man come change
Una wan flex small muscles

Him don change am means him don change am

Go learn the new one