NIGERIA’s Federal Executive Council adopted on Wednesday the second stanza of the National Anthem as the official prayer at all public functions.
Mr Mike Omeri, the Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA) made this known in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by Mr Paul Odenyi, his Chief Press Secretary.
He said that the Minister of Environment, Hajia Hadiza Mailafia gave the hint when he visited the agency, stating that FEC now recites the second stanza of the national anthem as national prayer.
The minister said that FEC was committed toward ensuring that all public functions followed suit.
It may be recalled that NOA had been advocating for the adoption of the second stanza as national prayer at public functions.
This NOA said would engender the spirit of cohesion and unity in supplication to God in the country.
According to NOA DG, the practise of saying separate prayers by different religious faithful at public functions divides the group along religious lines.
The Gov. of Ogun, and Niger states, Ibikunle Amosun and Aliyu Babangida had similarly adopted the second stanza as official prayers at all public functions and school in their states.
Mailafia, however, commended the agency for championing the campaign and urged the NOA not to relent in its effort at promoting patriotism, love and respect for national symbols.