The Federal House of Representatives has initiated moves to raise the fine for defacing the Nigerian flag from N100 to N100,000.
This is as a bill to amend the Flag and Coats of Arms Act passed for second reading at the Green Chamber on Wednesday, 6th of March.
Sada Solia Jibiya, who represents Jibia/Kaita constituency introduced the bill, which was debated and passed for second reading by the lawmakers.
According to the Act, it is forbidden to deface or manhandle the National Flag and used to attract a fine of N100.
But during the debate at plenary on Wednesday, the bill seeks to amend section 4 of the principal Act to increase the fine for individual violators from N100 to N100,000.
Also, Honourable Sada Solia Jibiya, is through the bill proposing N1 million fine for organizations that violate the national flag.
The proposed amendment states that “for an individual will be liable to one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) and in the case of a Corporate Organization, it shall be liable to a Fine of one million naira (N1,000,000) and in the case of a continuing offence, to a Fine of twenty thousand naira (N20,000) for every day for an individual and for a Corporate Organization to a Fine of N100,000 (one hundred thousand) for every day”.
Speaking on the bill, Soli said Nigerians and organisation are notorious for defacing the flag with impunity. He said the exiting law is not sufficient to prevent the abuse of the flag.
The motion was adopted without opposition. It was consequently referred to relevant committees for further action.
