CSOs kick against bill to regulate Christianity in Nigeria

About 19 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have kicked against a bill seeking to create a National Centre for Christian Education to regulate and set standards for the practice of Christianity in Nigeria, saying it lacks merit and should be dismissed.

Senator Binos Yaroe, representing Adamawa South Senatorial District, is the sponsor of the bill, which has passed second reading at the Ninth Senate.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, yesterday, a human rights lawyer and representative of the CSOs, Sonnie Ekwowusi, said the nine-page bill is a violation of violation of sections 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 of our 1999 Constitution and Articles 2, 8, 9, 17, 18, 27, 28, and 29 of the African Charter on Human & Peoples’ Rights (Ratification Enforcement) Act.

While noting that the sponsors were planning to sensitise on the bill at a summit slated for June 22-23, 2023, in Abuja, he said it was preposterous that in a multi-religious and secular state such as Nigeria, a bill that infringes on the citizens’ right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as well as unjustified intrusion of the state into the practice of the Christian religion is considered a priority.

Also speaking, Ben Abraham, a lawyer, noted that the sponsors of the bill have failed to understand the separation of the state and church, also known as the separation of religion and government in a presidential democracy and secular state such as Nigeria.

“They do not understand that the functions and responsibilities of the government and the church should be kept separate and that the government should not promote or favour any particular religion or religious institution, let alone delve into prescribing syllabuses for religious schools and modes of worship for any particular religion.

“The value of democracy stands or falls with the fundamental values that it embodies and promotes. A democratic government ought to conduct its activities in line with the will and aspirations of the people. Any democracy that violates the inalienable human rights of citizens is despotism par excellence, even though it externally wears the toga of democracy.”

The CSOs kicking against the bill include Foundation for African Cultural Heritage (FACH); Project for Human Development (PHD); Global Pro-life Alliance (GPA); Doctors Health Initiative; Happy Home Foundation; Association of Concerned Mothers; Nigerian Life League; Islamic Education Trust; Association of Catholic Medical Practitioners of Nigeria and Knights of St. Mulumba.

Others are Blissful Life for Youth Empowerment; Nigerian Association for Women Advancement; Catholic Lawyers Association; Sympathy Worldwide Organization; Life Choice International Initiative, Good Parenting and Youth Empowerment Initiative; Foundation for Marriage and Family; Centre for Corrections and Human Development; Islamic Platform of Nigeria.