Tinubu signs bill returning old national anthem into law

President Bola Tinubu has signed the bill on the reintroduction of the old national anthem.

Godswill Akpabio, senate president, announced this at the joint sitting of the senate and house of representatives on Wednesday.

Akpabio said the president signed the bill into law on Wednesday morning.

The senate president also said Tinubu will launch the rendition of the old national anthem during a joint sitting of the national assembly today.

The old national anthem is themed: ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’. The version used since 1978 is titled: ‘Arise, O Compatriots’.

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, however disclosed that Tinubu will not deliver a “state of the nation” address as earlier announced because today is not designated as official Democracy Day.

Abbas apologised for the earlier miscommunication on the subject.

On May 23, the house of representatives speedily passed the bill.

On Tuesday, the senate also passed the bill during a public hearing.

While presenting his report on the bill, Tahir Monguno, chairman of the judiciary committee, said his panel disagreed with the position of Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), that the process to change the anthem should be subjected to a wider process.

During a public hearing organised for the bill, Fagbemi had said the decision to change the country’s national anthem should not be done hastily but should be subjected to an extensive process.