Shuns AGF, okays bill to change National Anthem

The Senate has recalled Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) two months and two weeks into the three months suspension slammed on him over his comment that the 2024 budget of N28.7 trillion was padded.

 
It has also approved the bill to change the National Anthem from ‘Arise O Compatriots’ to the older ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’, which passed the third reading in the upper legislative chamber. 
 
Ningi was suspended on March 12, 2023, but the red chamber, yesterday, unanimously resolved to recall him. Senator Olamilekan Adeola (Ogun West) had come under Orders 9, 10, 41 and 51 to move a motion of privilege and issue of national importance against Ningi over his interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Hausa Service.
 
In the interview, the Bauchi senator alleged that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year was N25 trillion, while the one implemented by the Presidency was N28.7 trillion, a difference of N3.7 billion. 
 
The motion for Ningi’s unconditional recall was sponsored by the Minority Leader, Abba Moro, Olalere Oyewumi and Osita Ngwu. Presenting the motion, Moro recalled: “On Tuesday, March 12, 2024, this 10th Senate, during plenary, suspended the former Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum (NSF), Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, for three months following an interview he granted the BBC Hausa Service on March 9, 2024 in which he alleged that about N3.7 trillion (over 10 per cent) was illegally inserted into the 2024 Budget.” 
 
He explained further that Ningi was asked to address the allegation, following a motion of urgent national importance moved by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Olamilekan Adeola. 
 
Moro added: “And failing to address the allegation, the Senate resolved to suspend Ningi for three months for violating legislative rules, misconduct and unethical behaviour on the 2024 Appropriation Act, a legislation he was part of.  
 
“Ninigi has spent over two months outside the precincts of the National Assembly and needs to return to continue with his legislative activities as the Senator representing Bauchi Central. So, the Senate Minority Leadership takes full responsibility for the actions of our colleague, Ningi, and apologises on his behalf.” 
 
Accordingly, the Senate reconsidered the additional resolution (of the Votes and Proceedings) of Wednesday, March 13, 2024, to recall Ningi. 
FOLLOWING the consideration of the report of its Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, as well as Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs, yesterday, the Senate passed the ‘National Anthem Bill, 2024’ for assent.
 
The bill was passed amid misgivings by stakeholders, including the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, against hasty passage and the need for wider consultation.
 
Read on the floor of the Senate for the first and second time last Thursday, the bill also received an accelerated hearing at the House of Representatives, where it was read for the first, second and third time.
 
It will be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent. This will be the first time Nigeria’s National Anthem would be given legal backing if signed into law.
  
While presenting the committee’s report during plenary, Senator Mongonu Tahir (Borno North) said, “The bill seeks to give a legal framework to the national anthem, so that it can bite with all the legal powers embedded in it.”
 
According to him, despite the concerns raised by the AGF, the bill does not need to be subjected to a wider process of citizen participation through public hearings, resolutions of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), Council of State, National and State Assemblies, etc.
 
Presenting the committee’s report, Monguno described the ‘new’ National Anthem as apt, representing the country’s people, culture, values and aspirations. Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, also said the AGF “is not a lawmaker and does not have full understanding of how bills are passed.” The bill was consequently read for the third time and passed.