The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has adopted the second stanza of the National Anthem as the official prayer at all public functions.

The Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Mike Omeri,  made this known in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Paul Odenyi.

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.

Our correspondent  recalls that NOA had been advocating  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 faithfuls at public functions divides the group along religious lines.

It would be recalled that the Governors of Ogun and Niger states, Ibikunle Amosun and Aliyu Babangida had similarly adopted the second stanza as official prayers at all public functions and schools 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.