The National Orientation Agency (NOA), FCT, says that the agency
may propose a bill to the National Assembly to empower it to prosecute those
abusing the national symbols.
Mr
David Dogo, Director, NOA, FCT, called on every Nigerian to imbibe a sense of
discipline and patriotism in Nigerians.
Dogo
said that national symbols represented the varied customary beliefs of
Nigerians and had been part of her heritage for a very long time.
According
to him, they are very important to national identity as they are easily
recognised entities used to communicate the history and culture of a nation.
These
symbols could be used to instill pride and unity in a nation’s population, so
those abusing them should not be spared.
The
Nigerian national symbols included the national flag, national anthem, Coat of
Arms, national pledge, Naira notes among others.
These
symbols were supposed to be revered by Nigerians but the reverse is the case,
as they misuse them and demean their relevance.
The
coat of arm is not supposed to be on a flag hoisted outside. It is meant to
only be on ceremonial flags to be used officially.
Most
people also put the coat of arm on the president’s picture with the eagle
backing him, which is wrong because, the eagle should be facing the president
and not the other way round, he explained.
Dogo
added that most organisations and schools hoist torn flags outside their
building and you find people walking or talking when the anthem is being sung,
all these are wrong.
Some
people even leave the flag to fly 24 hours which is not supposed to be so;
flags are meant to be hoisted from 6a.m to 6p.m and not to be left all day.That is why
if you go to the military barracks, there is what is called the quarter guards,
who hoist and bring down the flags at 6p.m everyday.
Dogo
noted that the bill was necessary, to build an egalitarian nation where
citizens have a sense of admiration and respect for national symbols.
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