NOA clarifies correct use of national anthem, pledge
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The National Orientation Agency has issued a public notice on the proper rendition and recitation of the national anthem and pledge at official and public events across the country.
In a notice posted on its official X handle on Friday, the agency urged Nigerians to “kindly take note of the correct protocol for the rendition and recitation of the National Anthem and Pledge.”
According to the agency, only the first stanza of the anthem should be sung or recited at all official events, while the third stanza is to be rendered as the National Prayer at the beginning of such occasions.
The statement further explained that “all three stanzas are to be sung or recited only on special national occasions such as Independence Day, Presidential Inauguration, Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Democracy (June 12) Day, and the Inauguration of the National Assembly.”
The NOA also directed that the national pledge should be recited at the end of every event.
Reiterating the importance of respect for national symbols, the agency added, “Let us uphold the dignity and sanctity of our national symbols.”
The clarification comes after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, restoring “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the country’s anthem in place of “Arise, O Compatriots.”
The law, passed by both chambers of the National Assembly in May, drew mixed reactions from citizens, with some commending the return to the pre-1978 anthem for its historical value, while others criticised the move as misplaced amid the nation’s economic challenges.
