[lg policy] Nigerian Army officers resist learning more languages

[Harold Schiffman]

 *Nigerian Army* Reps kicks against new language policy

The House
<http://www.pulse.ng/news/local/reps-oppose-armys-new-local-language-policy-id7667425.html#>
also urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai to stop the
implementation of the policy.

   - Published: 30.11.2017
   - Pulse News Agency Local by NAN


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The House of Representatives on Wednesday, kicked against the new local
language policy proposed by the Nigerian Army.

The House also urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai to stop
the implementation of the* policy.
<http://www.pulse.ng/news/local/army-orders-soldiers-to-learn-hausa-igbo-yoruba-id7633438.html>*

The House noted that the policy sought to compel all personnel to be
proficient in three major Nigerian languages: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba by
December 2018.

The resolution was sequel to the unanimous adoption of a motion, sponsored
by *Rep. Abiante Dagomie* and* Rep. Diri Douye.*
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Moving the motion, Dagomie reiterated the need for the Army to continue
with the practice of communicating in English language
<http://www.pulse.ng/news/local/reps-oppose-armys-new-local-language-policy-id7667425.html#>
in a multi-lingual Army.

Dagomie, who said that the policy infringed on the fundamental rights of
the minority languages in the country, added that it would serve no purpose
beyond fractionalisation and marginalisation in the Army.

He said, *“Nigeria is home to languages, numbering about 400 and that
language gives insight into the personality and culture of a people.*

*“Therefore, such a local language policy proposed by the Nigerian Army
infringes on the fundamental rights of the minorities not to be foisted
with the linguistic and cultural hegemonies of major languages*

*“This situation, should it continue unabated, will lead to discrimination
and exclusion from employment opportunities, promotion and ambush of the
legitimate aspirations of overwhelming numbers of non-native speakers of
Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa in the Army.*

*“Nigerian society is heterogeneous and as such, in contemplating policies,
care must be taken to steer discourse to what is integrating, progressive
and amenable.*

*“This is to ensure mass involvement in the national development and
democratic processes rather than pandering to primordial or tribal biases*

*ALSO READ:* *5 reasons why soldiers must speak Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa
<http://www.pulse.ng/news/local/5-reasons-why-soldiers-must-now-speak-igbo-yoruba-hausa-id7636008.html>*
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*“The policy flies in the face of an increasingly globalising world where
proficiency in an international language is the current inclination.*

*“When we all use the same language, we have a common understanding of
precisely what we mean and what is expected.’’*

The Deputy Speaker, *Yusuf Lasun,* presided over the plenary, referred the
motion to the Committee on Army to interface with the Chief of Army Staff
on the policy with a view to ensuring a stop to it.

The committee is to report back in four weeks.


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 Harold F. Schiffman

Professor Emeritus of
 Dravidian Linguistics and Culture
Dept. of South Asia Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305

Phone:  (215) 898-7475
Fax:  (215) 573-2138

Email:  haroldfs at gmail.com
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/

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