Christian Association of Nigeria vows to challenge Kaduna State government's religious bill

CHRISTIAN Association of Nigeria (Can) officials in Kaduna State have said they will drag Governor Nasir El-Rufai to court and challenge his recent decision to ban the regulate the opening of churches and mosques across the state.

Last month, the Kaduna State House of Assembly passed the Religious Bill, making it mandatory for all mosques and churches to get government clearance before opening. This means they must also get government authorisation before holding open air rallies across the state and all imams and pastors must be registered with the Kaduna State government.

However, Can's Kaduna State chapter has said it will challenge the legality of the religious bill recently passed by the former Kaduna State House of Assembly, in court. Reverend John Joseph Hayab, the chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of Can, pointed out that Christians in the state would not accept the religious bill.

He added:  “We are going to court over the illegal action of the former lawmakers in the state who hurriedly signed the Religious Bill into law hurriedly before they left. We will not accept the bill even if Governor Nasir El-Rufai assents on it."

Reverend Hayab said the bill, which the former lawmakers endorsed before the Kaduna State House of Assembly was dissolved, is a breach of the fundamental rights of all Christians in the state which the constitution guaranteed. He added that they were not consulted before the bill was passed.

“I, as the chairman of Can in the state or any official, was not invited for any preliminary hearing by the Kaduna State House of Assembly on the bill that was hurriedly passed before the House was resolved. Even the Interfaith Council which they claimed would regulate the activities of churches and mosques in the state, does not understand what Christianity is, let alone regulating our religion.

“They cannot regulate both private and public evangelism of Christians. What is the essence of Christianity if we cannot evangelise both privately and publicly? The law cannot work and we will not accept it,” he said.