The bill seeking to create a National Centre for Christian Education to regulate and set standards for the practice of Christianity in Nigeria, which has passed the second reading in the Senate, is a time bomb. If it eventually becomes law, the legislation has the potential of widening the existing fault lines in the country and create more problems than solutions. The bill should, therefore, be dropped.

The bill was sponsored by Senator Binos Yaroe, representing Adamawa South Senatorial District. In his presentation, the senator said the bill, when passed would properly, ‘strengthen religion as a source of strength and national solidarity, which is why the bill to establish the centre to create a curriculum for Christian education is very necessary.’ Yaroe claimed that the centre, when established, would aid in resolving the country’s inappropriate practice of religion, which according to him, had in the past led to avoidable religious crisis.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Istifanus Gyang of the Plateau North Senatorial District, argued that improperly practised religion has radicalised adherents. Gyang also noted that religion could be a source of strength and national solidarity if followed properly, adding that the bill, when established, will create a curriculum for Christian education.

Also speaking, Senator Abba Moro, representing Benue South in the Red Chamber, said the bill was apt given that some youngsters had been duped by radical religious figures. The bill passed second reading after it was put to a voice vote by Senate President Ahmad Lawan and was referred to the committee on education for further legislative input.

The bill is wrong in many respects. It is at variance with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution which give to the people the right to choose their religion and mode of worship. The bill further amounts to intrusion into the people’s private lives. Religious practice is a private affair of the individual. The State or the Senate should not dabble into prescribing how the Christian faith should be practised by its adherents. The envisaged law is likely to foment trouble and lead to avoidable religious crisis.

The 1999 Nigerian Constitution respects religion as a personal affair that should not be under the control of the state. Section 38 provides that everyone is entitled to ‘freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.’ We enjoin the Senate to stop further deliberations on the divisive, toxic and discriminatory bill forthwith. Apart from infringing on the constitutional provision on religious freedom, the intended law will cause religious and ethnic crisis and further divide Nigerians along religious lines. Why is the bill particularly interested in regulating the practice of Christian religion leaving out other religious faiths?

Let the senators be reminded that their primary function as lawmakers is to make laws that will ensure the wellbeing of all Nigerians. They should make laws that will guarantee good governance, justice and peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians. This bill will do the opposite and should be discarded. The bill will spell doom and create anarchy in the country if it becomes law.

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Issues concerning religion are usually volatile and easily misunderstood in the country. Misinterpretation of matters of religion had caused major crises in Kano, Kafanchan in Kaduna State at some point and lately in Sokoto State. On such occasions, lives were lost and property worth billions of naira destroyed. Nigeria cannot afford to pass through such gruesome experiences again. There are tensions currently in many parts of the country. Nothing should be done to exacerbate the climate of uncertainty in the country.

There are other important issues that should command the urgent attention of the lawmakers. These include laws that will enhance the welfare of the citizens, unbundling the Constitution and devolving powers from the almighty centre to the federating units. Dabbling into the matters of religion will give the lawmakers bad name and alienate them the Christian faithful.

Nigeria is a secular or a multi-religious state and should be allowed to remain so. The National Assembly should not single out one religion for legislation. It does not make sense for the Senate to interfere in the affairs of any particular religion under whatever guise. Government has no basis for getting involved in matters of religion. Extremism in whatever form stands condemned. However, religious organisations should be self-regulatory.

We urge the lawmakers to drop the bill. It will set them on collision course with the adherents of Christian religion and is likely to have deleterious consequences for the country.