Take-It-Back Movement Calls For Protest Against Bill Seeking To Penalise Nigerians Over National Anthem, Says It Should Be Discarded
The TIB described the Bill sponsored by the House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, as a calculated effort by the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to stifle Nigerians’ fundamental rights, adding that the legislation is a threat to Nigerian democracy.
Human rights advocacy organisation, the Take It Back (TIB) Movement, has condemned the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, introduced by the House of Representatives, which aims to impose stringent penalties on Nigerians who fail to recite the national anthem.
The TIB described the Bill sponsored by the House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, as a calculated effort by the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to stifle Nigerians’ fundamental rights, adding that the legislation is a threat to Nigerian democracy.
The rights group, which demanded that the Bill be discarded, said this in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu and the Public Relations Officer, Stephen Olabiyi, in reaction to the report that the Bill is set for its second reading, where its general principles will be debated.
SaharaReporters had reported that the proposed legislation stipulated that anyone found guilty of refusing to recite the national anthem shall be fined N5 million, face a 10-year prison sentence, or both
Also, anyone who destroys a national symbol or a place of worship shall be liable to the same punishment.
But TIB said that proposed legislation contradicts the core principles of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the freedom of demonstration that underpin any democratic society.
The group said, “We at the Take It Back Movement vehemently condemn the proposed Counter Subversion Bill introduced on August 14th, 2024, by the Tajudeen Abass, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“This bill threatens the fundamental rights of Nigerians, and it’s seeking to impose excessive penalties on citizens for refusing to recite the national anthem, and also criminalising civil actions deemed subversive to the government.
“This proposed legislation contradicts the core principles of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the freedom of demonstration that underpin any democratic society.
“Hence, we demand that this bill should be discarded and not be passed into law, rather the government should redirect their efforts toward tackling the underlying factors that contribute to discord and strife within our country.
“We further charge the House of Representatives to prioritize critical concerns such as widespread hunger, rampant mismanagement, and pervasive poverty, which have severely impacted the people of Nigeria.
“As a pro-people’s movement dedicated to justice and progress, we have observed significant public backlash against the bill, as citizens express their discontent.
“We perceive this legislation as an effort to stifle the rights of Nigerians, and we proudly stand with the people in raising our voices to condemn this unfair proposal.
“In solidarity with the people of Nigeria, we unequivocally denounce this proposed repressive legislation and vow to protect the constitutional rights of Nigerians.
“We will stop at nothing to protect whatever is left of our democratic rights as Nigerians, including mobilising Nigerians to the streets if this draconian bill is not withdrawn immediately.”
