The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has criticised the Senate for passing the Bill reverting the nation to the old national anthem of 1960.
It described the Senate’s decision as hasty, unpopular and “ lacked the required support of the majority of Nigerians”.
The MMWG, in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Abdullahi and national secretary, Dr Nasir Balogun, also described the matter as a misplaced priority, adding that the Nigerian Senate ought to give issues of such national importance wider consideration and allow contribution of citizens before resolution was made.
The group aligned its views with that of the attorney general and minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) that the issue of the national anthem “is beyond what National Assembly Members could decide upon in their hallowed chambers after public hearing.”
“Instead of rushing the passing of the Bill on reversion to the old national anthem, issues bordering on the welfare, care and protection of Nigerians in this hard time ought to occupy the minds of our national legislators rather than a national anthem change or reversion,” it said.
The group called on President Bola Tinubu to ignore the bill and focus on his economic and social infrastructure programmes including good take-home pay for workers, an enhanced pension package for senior citizens and restoration of power across the country.