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National anthem: Four crucial bills pending at NASS for years

Published

2 years ago

June 1, 2024

National anthem: Four crucial bills pending at NASS for years

It took the presidency and the National Assembly only six days to introduce, debate, pass and sign the National Anthem Bill. The bill, which summarily takes Nigeria back to its old anthem, passed first and second readings in quick succession on May 23. By May 28, the Senate had passed ‘Nigeria we hail thee’ as the National Anthem and sent the bill to the presidency for assent. Barely 24 hours later, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the bill, and it became law.

Different reactions, mostly outrage, have followed the signing of this bill into law. Some Nigerians argue that the anthem, a colonial vestige, should not be a national symbol of an independent Nigeria. For some others, sensitising Nigerians to the national anthem would constitute another unnecessary expenditure for the federal government.

Most importantly, however, concerned Nigerians have questioned the relevance of the bill and the quickness of its signing, especially considering what the economic indicators in Nigeria currently look like.

FIJ has compiled a list of four more essential bills that have been stuck in the legislature for years. Some of these bills have not been passed by the National Assembly. The ones that have a legislative nod have not been signed into law by the president.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN TERTIRARY EDUCATION INSTITUTION PROHIBITION BILL

It has been more than eight years since the bill drafted to criminalise sexual harassment against students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria was introduced. But despite frequent reports on this act, especially against women, the bill has been stuck between the National Assembly and the presidency.

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In 2016, Ovie Omo-agege and 57 other senators sponsored the bill to jail staff of tertiary institutions found guilty of acts of sexual harassment against students. However, the passage process hit a snag in the House of Representatives after the Senate passed it in 2017. The representatives rejected the bill because “it was not comprehensive enough”.

In 2019, Omo-Agee reintroduced the bill to the Senate. The re-introduction was likely triggered by the outrage that followed the British Broadcasting Corporation’s investigation into sexual harassment. The Senate passed the bill again in 2020.

There was another two years between the time the Senate passed the bill and its approval by the House of Representatives. In June 2023, both arms of the legislature gave a joint nod to the bill.

The ninth assembly had not got a presidential nod for the bill when it was dissolved a week later.

EXPORT PROHIBITION REPEAL BILL

In March, FIJ reported how the Nigerian agricultural sector missed out on significant profit because of a law made under the military dictatorship of Ibrahim Babangida.

The 1989 Export Prohibition Act prohibits Nigerians from exporting agriculture produce like yam, rice, maize, cassava, beans and imported food items. According to this act, the punishment for exporting the items listed above could be as severe as life imprisonment.

The clamour to repeal this act emerged in 2017, when Nigeria attempted large-scale yam exports but failed. FIJ reported how various stakeholders in the agricultural sector had appealed multiple times to sitting legislatures to repeal the bill.

In 2019, Sabo Mohammed sponsored and introduced the bill to repeal the act to the floor of the Senate. The bill, however, didn’t get passed by the Senate until December 2022.

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The bill didn’t get its first reading at the House of Representatives until July 2023. The bill remains stuck within the National Assembly, about seven years after stakeholders began actively lobbying for it.

For context, the combined global market value for all the food commodities on the list was about $560 billion as of 2023. As of 2021, Nigeria was the largest producer of cassava in the world, with an output of about six million metric tonnes.

BILL TO DECRIMINALISE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

Nigeria only just joined the list of countries that recognise the importance of mental health in January 2023, when Buhari signed the Mental Health Bill into law. Before then, the bill had survived two attempts at an overhaul in 2003 and in 2013. The signing of this bill made the clamour to decriminalise suicide in Nigeria louder and more pronounced.

The first significant attempt at decriminalising suicide in Nigeria started in the ninth House of Representatives. In 2022, Francis Waive, representing Ughelli north/south, sponsored the bill to scale down the punishments from a one-year jail term to community service and mandatory counselling.

However, the bill could not scale legislative scrutiny. In March, the new bill to decriminalise suicide passed second reading in the House of Representatives, about two years after the first attempt, courtesy of Waive.

EMPLOYEE RENUMERATION PROTECTION BILL

FIJ has reported several cases of employers refusing to pay their employees. With the right laws in place, it is possible that employees will be better protected.

There have been two major attempts by the National Assembly to protect employees in Nigeria from employers that owe salaries. In 2016, the Employees/Workman (Unpaid Wages Prohibition) Bill 2016’ was introduced in the National Assembly. The bill didn’t pass the first reading until 2019, after which it was recalled by the ninth assembly for reconsideration.

Another attempt at protecting employees did not resurface until three years later, when Adewale Hameed, representing the Agege Federal Constituency, sponsored the Employee Renumeration Protection Bill. According to the bill tracker of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Center, the bill has only just passed first reading since it was introduced in July 2023.

National anthem: Four crucial bills pending at NASS for years

FIJ

News

BREAKING: Tinubu Allegedly Shakes Up Cabinet, Removes Wale Edun, Ahmed Dangiwa

Published

46 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Wale Edun

BREAKING: Tinubu Allegedly Shakes Up Cabinet, Removes Wale Edun, Ahmed Dangiwa

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly approved a minor cabinet reshuffle involving key changes in the Federal Executive Council (FEC), including the removal of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, alongside the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa.

The development was said to have been contained in a memo signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, directing immediate transition processes across the affected ministries.

Wale Edun, Dangiwa Relieved of Ministerial Duties

According to the reported directive, Wale Edun has been asked to hand over duties at the Ministry of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Similarly, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa is to vacate his position as Minister of Housing and Urban Development.

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The memo reportedly instructed that all handover processes be concluded on or before close of business on Thursday, April 23, 2026, ensuring a smooth administrative transition within the affected ministries.

Succession Arrangements and Ministerial Changes

The document further stated that Mr. Taiwo Oyedele has been named as the incoming Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, following Edun’s exit.

In the housing ministry, Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma has reportedly been nominated as Minister-designate for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, pending formal confirmation procedures. Until then, Dangiwa has been directed to hand over to the Minister of State within the ministry.

Presidency Explains Reason for Reshuffle

Explaining the development, SGF George Akume was quoted as saying the changes are aimed at improving cohesion, synergy in governance, and economic delivery under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He added that President Tinubu acted within his constitutional powers under Sections 147 and 148 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), emphasizing that cabinet adjustments remain part of ongoing efforts to improve governance efficiency.

Presidential Appreciation and Next Steps

The memo also reportedly conveyed President Tinubu’s appreciation to outgoing ministers for their service to the nation, while wishing them success in their future engagements. It further indicated that the President assured Nigerians and cabinet members that government reinvigoration efforts will continue periodically.

BREAKING: Tinubu Allegedly Shakes Up Cabinet, Removes Wale Edun, Ahmed Dangiwa

News

Power Firm to Hold Virtual Stakeholder Meeting on Rainy Season Electrical Safety

Published

3 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Power Firm to Hold Virtual Stakeholder Meeting on Rainy Season Electrical Safety

A power distribution company has announced plans to hold its April Virtual Stakeholder Engagement aimed at educating customers on safety measures during the rainy season.

In a notice issued to customers, the company said the virtual session would focus on the dangers associated with exposed electrical wires, flooded installations, and the increased risk of electric shock that often accompanies heavy rainfall.

The engagement, scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., will be held via Microsoft Teams, allowing participants to join remotely.

According to the company, the initiative is part of efforts to promote public safety and reduce electricity-related accidents during the rainy season, when infrastructure is more vulnerable and risks are heightened.

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Beyond safety concerns, the session will also provide practical tips to help customers navigate the season safely, including guidance on energy efficiency to reduce consumption and costs.

The company further disclosed that it would share updates on its waste-management support initiatives targeted at public schools, as part of its broader corporate social responsibility programmes.

Customers and other stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the session to gain valuable insights and contribute to discussions aimed at improving safety and sustainability in communities.

The company reiterated its commitment to customer welfare, urging the public to remain vigilant and adhere to recommended safety practices during the rainy season.

Power Firm to Hold Virtual Stakeholder Meeting on Rainy Season Electrical Safety

News

NERC: Only 15 States Fully Regulating Electricity Markets Under New Law

Published

9 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)

NERC: Only 15 States Fully Regulating Electricity Markets Under New Law

Twenty-one states, including Rivers State and Kano State, have yet to assume full regulatory control of their electricity markets nearly three years after the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023, even as 15 states have successfully transitioned to independent electricity regulation under Nigeria’s decentralised power framework.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) confirmed that the 15 states that have completed the transition now operate their own electricity markets, handling tariff regulation, licensing, investment promotion, and consumer protection within their jurisdictions.

The reform is part of the broader implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralises Nigeria’s power sector by empowering states to regulate generation, transmission, and distribution within their territories after meeting legal and institutional requirements.

15 states now operating independent electricity markets

According to NERC, 15 states have fully completed the transition process and are now independently regulating their electricity sectors. These states include Enugu, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Oyo, Edo, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Plateau, Abia, Nasarawa, Anambra, and Bayelsa.

The commission explained that the transition began in October 2024 with Enugu and Ekiti, followed shortly by Ondo. The process gained momentum in 2025, with states such as Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Edo completing their transitions. More recent entries include Nasarawa, Anambra, and Bayelsa in early 2026.

Under the new structure, these states now oversee intrastate electricity regulation, including issuing licenses, enforcing technical standards, setting local tariffs, and protecting electricity consumers.

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21 states yet to complete transition

However, 21 states are yet to complete the process of taking over regulatory control of their electricity markets. These include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Osun, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.

Energy experts say the delay could slow down the expected benefits of the Nigeria electricity sector reform, including improved power supply, localised tariff structures, and increased investment in mini-grids and embedded generation projects.

They also warn that uneven implementation could widen disparities in electricity access and investment across states.

What the Electricity Act 2023 provides

Under the Electricity Act 2023, once a state completes its transition, it establishes its own electricity regulatory commission responsible for overseeing all intra-state electricity operations.

The national regulator, NERC, retains oversight of interstate electricity trade and the national grid system.

State regulators are expected to drive local electricity market development by encouraging private investment, supporting renewable energy projects, and ensuring service quality standards across distribution networks.

However, NERC noted that some states that have declared transition still need to fully operationalise their regulatory institutions.

Federal government push for decentralisation

The Federal Government has repeatedly encouraged states to accelerate adoption of the reform, describing decentralisation as essential to solving Nigeria’s long-standing electricity challenges.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said Nigeria’s size and population make centralised electricity management ineffective.

He explained that the Electricity Act allows states to participate in all segments of the power sector value chain, including generation, transmission, distribution, and supporting services.

Adelabu also stressed the importance of collaboration between federal and state regulators to ensure alignment between wholesale and retail electricity markets.

He added that state participation is especially critical in off-grid electrification and rural power projects, where flexible local regulation can improve access and attract investment.

Outlook for Nigeria’s power reform

Stakeholders say the success of Nigeria’s electricity decentralisation reform will depend on how quickly the remaining 21 states establish functional regulatory frameworks and fully activate their electricity markets.

They warn that delays may limit investment inflows and slow down efforts to improve electricity supply reliability across the country.

Despite the uneven progress, the Electricity Act 2023 remains one of the most significant structural reforms in Nigeria’s power sector, aimed at creating a more competitive and efficient electricity market.

NERC: Only 15 States Fully Regulating Electricity Markets Under New Law