“No Preaching Without Government Approval!” — Niger Governor Shakes Pulpits with Bold New Law!
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“No Preaching Without Government Approval!” — Niger Governor Shakes Pulpits with Bold New Law
In a move stirring national debate, Niger State Governor Umar Bago has announced that all religious preachers must submit their sermons for government approval before delivering them publicly. The directive aims to curb the spread of messages deemed anti-government or capable of inciting unrest.
Speaking on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, Governor Bago clarified the policy:
"I didn't ban evangelism… For everyone going to sermon on Friday, he should bring his scriptures for review, and it's normal. Even in Saudi Arabia, this is done. We cannot say because you have been given the opportunity to be a cleric, you will go out and preach the gospel that is anti-people, anti-government and you think it's normal." [1]The governor emphasized collaboration with security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the military, to monitor religious messages.
Umar Farooq, Director General of the Niger State Religious Affairs, elaborated on the implementation:
”Any preacher who wants to preach must secure a licence between now and the next two months. All they need to do is to visit our office, get, and fill out the form. After which, they will have to face a panel that will screen them before they can start preaching.” [2]
The policy has elicited mixed reactions. Bashir Yankuzo, Chief Imam of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, acknowledged the government’s role in maintaining peace but cautioned against overreach:
"Preaching is a command. The government is not paying anyone for doing the job; people are preaching in order to earn the pleasure of God. So, the government cannot dictate who to preach to and who not to preach." [2]Similarly, Uthman Siraja, an Islamic scholar, criticized the directive as an infringement on religious rights:
"The ban on preaching is an infringement of freedom of worship and religion. The best thing for the government to do is to invite and penalise any preacher who incites the public in the course of his preaching." [2]The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, stated it was not officially informed about the policy and would issue a statement upon receiving formal communication. [2]
As the two-month compliance window progresses, the policy’s impact on religious practices and freedom of expression in Niger State remains a subject of intense discussion.
Governor Umaru Bago Discusses Sermon Approval Policy
Citations:
1. Daily Trust: dailytrust.com/breaking-preachers-must-submit-sermons-for-approval-in-niger-gov-bago/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. Punch: punchng.com/niger-orders-religious-preachers-to-obtain-licence-to-preach/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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