Niger Christian Forum Slams Bago Over Preaching Law

 

 

Niger Christian Forum Slams Bago Over Preaching Law

 

The Concerned Christian Youth Forum has faulted the new religious preaching law introduced by the Niger State government, describing it as “ill-advised, discriminatory and oppressive.”

 

Patriotic Insight News Reports earlier reported that the law, as stipulated by the state government, requires religious preachers in the state to submit their sermons for approval before delivering them publicly.

 

The government, through the state’s Religious Affairs Department, had introduced licensing for preachers and asked clerics to fill forms, undergo a screening panel, and obtain certification within two months.

 

Defending the policy in a recent appearance on TVC’s Politics, Governor Umar Bago insisted the policy does not constitute a ban on evangelism.

 

The governor argued the measure is needed to prevent preaching that might be “anti-people, anti-government” or which could incite unrest. He said the initiative would be enforced in collaboration with state security agencies, including the Department of State Services, the Police, the Civil Defence, and the military.

 

However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, signed by its convener, Paul Adama, the forum stated that the policy constitutes religious censorship and violates constitutional provisions on freedom of thought and religion.

 

“Niger State has been in the limelight in recent times for some wrong reasons. Apart from the worrisome challenge of insecurity, the government has exacerbated the situation by introducing a law mandating preachers to submit sermon notes for approval.

 

This is nothing short of religious censorship and a gross violation of the fundamental human rights of the people. It relates to their freedom of thought and religion, which is enshrined in Sections 38 and 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement read.

 

The forum noted that Sections 38 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as international instruments such as Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, protect religious freedom and prohibit undue interference by government.

 

“These key UN instruments provide freedom of thought, conscience and religion; freedom to change religion or belief; freedom to manifest, practice or express religion or belief; prohibition of all forms of discrimination and incitement and protection for all regardless of religion or belief,” it added.

 

It further argued that religion remains an ultra-sensitive matter in Nigeria and urged the state government to handle it with caution.

 

The forum urged Bago to withdraw the law in the interest of peace, justice and respect for both Nigeria’s Constitution and United Nations charters on religious freedom.

 

“We stand for religious sanity and denounce every form of inflammatory speech or religious incitement. However, we appeal to the government of Niger state to jettison forthwith the law subjecting preachers to mandatory licensing and requiring preachers to submit their sermon notes for verification and approval,” it stated.

 

Beyond the religious implications, the forum asked the state government to address what it called “pressing developmental challenges” such as insecurity and rising poverty.

 

“Tackling poverty, insecurity, poor infrastructure, and underdevelopment should be the concerns of any well-meaning government and not stifling religious freedom,” the statement added.