In the House of Representatives, a bill to alter the Flag and Coat of Arms Act to control the flying and displaying of national flags has passed second reading.
Rep. Sada Soli (APC-Katsina) introduced a bill that aimed to raise the fine for violators from N100 to N100,000.
Leading the discussion, Soli stated that using the national flag is illegal for private, public, and corporate organizations.
The member claimed that the amendment bill was necessary in order to stop such egregious flag abuses.
According to him, the measure aimed to expand the list of entities having the authority to apprehend anyone for mishandling or abusing the flag.
According to the lawmaker, section 8 of the bill aims to provide the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and paramilitary groups the authority to confiscate or seize any flag that is perceived to be used unfairly as against only the police.
The Flag and Coat of Arms Act states that; “Subject to provisions of this section, if in any public place in Nigeria, the national flag is to be exhibited or flown for any purpose, it shall not be exhibited with or be flown on the same staff or cross bar with the flag of any state, or the flag of any Commonwealth or foreign country.
“The National Flag or any other flag when exhibited or flown, shall not appear in a defaced or tattered condition; but the national flag shall not be deemed to be defaced by reason only of the fact that it is embodied in or forms part of a state flag.
“Where the flag of any state is flown in the state to which it relates or elsewhere than in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, it shall not be necessary for the national flag to be flown at the same time.
“But if the flag of a state and the national flag are to be flown at the same time in a public place in that state or elsewhere in Nigeria, the national flag of at least the same size as the state flag shall fly above that of any state flag.”
According to Soli, section 10 of the law aimed to raise the punishment for any liable party’s offense from N100 to N100,000.
Rep. Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker, decided to refer the bill to the appropriate committee for additional legislative action. (NAN)