By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has passed for second reading “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Flag and Coats of Arms Act, Cap. F30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Regulate, Display and use of National Flags and for Related Matters (HB.991)” sponsored by Rep. Sada Soli on Wednesday at plenary.
The bill when passed i to law is to increase the number of Organizations that can arrest any person for an abuse or mis-use of the Flag and the fines for the abuse and mis-use of the Flag.
In his lead debate, Rep. Soli called on lawmakers to support the bill. He also explained that the Bill is divided into four sections and section 8 seeks to be amended forms part of section 2.
He stated: “Section 8 of the Principal Act is amended by adding new Organization as Civil Defence Corps Officer or any Para Military Organization which may seize or remove any flag.
“Section 10 increases the fines of the offence from One Hundred Naira to One Hundred Thousand Naira.
“Mr. Speaker, Hon. Colleagues, both individual, Public and Corporate Organizations from experience use to violate the use of our National Flag and we need to curb the excessive abuses of the Flag. Hence, the needs to bring on board this amendment”.
The bill was first read on Thursday, 23 November, 2023.