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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

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Tinubu Urges Senate to Amend Constitution for State Police Amid Rising Insecurity

Published

17 minutes ago

February 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Tinubu Urges Senate to Amend Constitution for State Police Amid Rising Insecurity

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the National Assembly to begin the process of amending the constitution to allow the creation of State Police, describing it as a crucial step to tackle Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.

The appeal was made on Wednesday night during an interfaith breakfast with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where Tinubu emphasised that the current federal policing system alone cannot effectively combat crime across all regions.

Highlighting the escalating threats of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency, the President said a decentralised policing system would empower state governments to respond quickly to local crimes. “We are facing terrorism, banditry, and insurgency … What I will ask for tonight is for you (Senators) to start thinking how best to amend the constitution to incorporate the State Police for us to secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, and free our children from fear,” he said.

Tinubu explained that State Police would complement federal security agencies, improve intelligence gathering at the community level, and enhance rapid response to security threats, while strengthening local governance and citizen protection.

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The President also praised the collaboration between the executive and legislative branches, describing unity as essential for fighting insecurity and boosting public confidence. He commended lawmakers for supporting key economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and tax reforms, which he said are necessary to curb corruption and stabilise the economy.

“You don’t have to chase me for dollars; you could see what Nigeria is today. We are enjoying a stable economy, and prosperity is beckoning us,” Tinubu stated, urging continued legislative support for policies promoting long-term economic growth.

Responding to the President, Senate President Godswill Akpabio thanked Tinubu for the interfaith event, calling it a gesture of mutual respect. Akpabio praised the administration’s reforms, noting that they have increased revenue available to state governments and facilitated the development of critical infrastructure. He also prayed for peace, stability, and continued progress in Nigeria.

The call for State Police has been a long-standing debate in Nigerian politics, with supporters citing improved local security and accountability, while critics warn of possible politicisation and the need for strong oversight mechanisms. A constitutional amendment would require legislative deliberation and ratification by a majority of state assemblies, making it a complex but potentially transformative reform.

President Tinubu’s renewed appeal underscores the administration’s commitment to structural security reforms as a key strategy to address Nigeria’s persistent insecurity and protect citizens across the country.

Tinubu Urges Senate to Amend Constitution for State Police Amid Rising Insecurity

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Bill Gates Apologises for Epstein Ties, Admits Two Extramarital Affairs

Published

30 minutes ago

February 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Bill Gates Apologises for Epstein Ties, Admits Two Extramarital Affairs

Bill Gates, the Bill Gates and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has publicly apologised for his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling it a “huge mistake” during a recent town hall meeting with foundation staff.

Gates admitted that he regrets meeting and spending time with Epstein, who had pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor. He acknowledged that he had taken foundation executives to some meetings with Epstein, a decision he now considers an error in judgment. Gates stressed that, despite interactions through 2014, he never stayed overnight at Epstein’s properties or visited his private island, and had no involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities.

The apology comes amid renewed scrutiny following the release of U.S. Justice Department documents connected to Epstein, who died in custody in 2019. Some documents included draft emails and redacted communications, one of which falsely alleged Gates contracted a sexually transmitted infection and sought medication for his then-wife, Melinda French Gates. Gates has categorically denied the claims.

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In addition to addressing the Epstein connection, Gates revealed that he had two extramarital affairs during his marriage, stressing that these relationships were not related to Epstein. He said one affair involved a Russian bridge player he met at events, and the other a Russian nuclear physicist. He admitted these affairs caused personal fallout and acknowledged the pain they caused Melinda, who has said that the recent document releases brought back “painful times” in their marriage.

Gates told staff, “I apologise to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made,” highlighting his responsibility for involving foundation employees and the public perception that followed. He also emphasised that his interactions with Epstein were motivated by philanthropic discussions on global health and innovation, and that he saw nothing illicit during those meetings.

The Gates Foundation has confirmed that Epstein was never employed or paid by the organisation and that Gates’ remarks were intended to address staff concerns and clarify his personal and professional history.

While Gates remains focused on the foundation’s global health, innovation, and philanthropic work, the renewed revelations have reignited public debate over his judgment and past associations.

Bill Gates Apologises for Epstein Ties, Admits Two Extramarital Affairs

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Why Tottenham’s Decision to Ignore Ademola Lookman Is Backfiring Badly

Published

1 hour ago

February 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Ademola Lookman

Why Tottenham’s Decision to Ignore Ademola Lookman Is Backfiring Badly

New revelations have clarified why Tottenham Hotspur and Galatasaray failed to secure Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman during the winter transfer window, a decision now widely viewed as costly as Spurs battle a deepening relegation crisis.

Despite Lookman being offered to Tottenham twice—in the summer and again in January—the North London club opted for caution. Spurs’ hierarchy, then operating under Thomas Frank, chose not to proceed, even as injuries ravaged the squad.

At the time, Tottenham were without key attackers including Richarlison, Mohammed Kudus, and Dominic Solanke. Yet Sporting Director Johan Lange defended the club’s inactivity, insisting Spurs would not pursue “quick fixes” in the transfer market.

That stance has since drawn criticism, especially given what followed.

Instead of signing the CAF Player of the Year, Spurs spent nearly €40 million on Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid—a move that inadvertently gave the Spanish giants the financial flexibility and squad space to sign Lookman on February 1.

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Since arriving in Spain, Lookman has flourished under Diego Simeone, quickly becoming a driving force in Atlético’s attack. In just seven appearances, the Nigerian forward has recorded four goals and two assists, including a Man of the Match display in a crushing 4–0 Copa del Rey victory over Barcelona.

While Tottenham continue to struggle for goals and consistency, Lookman’s impact has underlined what Spurs may have missed.

Galatasaray also came close but ultimately failed in their pursuit. Super-agent George Gardi, the architect of Victor Osimhen’s move to Istanbul, confirmed attempts to replicate the same loan-plus-option formula for Lookman.

According to Gardi, the deal collapsed twice—first because Lookman preferred to remain in Italy during the summer, and later because Atalanta’s valuation skyrocketed in January, placing the transfer beyond Galatasaray’s reach.

With daunting fixtures against Liverpool, Chelsea, and Aston Villa on the horizon, Spurs now face a defining stretch of the season.

For many supporters, what was presented as market discipline now feels like a surrender—one that could threaten Tottenham’s 48-year stay in the top flight.

As Ademola Lookman continues to shine on Europe’s biggest stages, both Tottenham and Galatasaray are left confronting a harsh reality: passing on a proven match-winner may prove impossible to undo.