The decision of 19 Northern governors to commence the registration of religious groups and organisations has been generating controversies among religious leaders and other stakeholders. A communiqué they issued on April 29th 2016, disclosed their intention to enact a law to regulate indoor and outdoor preaching.

The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, had earlier proposed the religious preaching bill to the state house of assembly. The bill, which followed the December 2015 clash between the Army and Shiite Muslims in Zaria, Kaduna State, is being perceived as the state government’s response to the situation. Besides this, governors in the North were alarmed at the proliferation of religious sects and preachers in the region.

When the bill becomes law, it will close down any religious institution and organisation that refuses to register with the respective state governments. According to the governors in their communiqué, “it has become imperative to establish a regulatory mechanism to constituently monitor activities of newly-registered and unregistered religious organisations, ascertain the sources of their funds both locally and internationally, monitor the activities of new Islamic schools established by any of the sects as well as their curriculum”.

Indeed, the perennial religious conflicts in the North topped in recent years by the influx of terrorists and their nihilist campaigns that have cost the nation over 20,000 lives and unquantifiable material property call for greater vigilance by the government and the citizenry. Religious groups also contribute a lot in noise pollution.

However, government must not appear to be interfering with the people’s constitutional rights. In Chapter 38(1) of the Constitution, people have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The provision also permits unhindered but lawful propagation of religious faith both in private and in public.

We frown at any move to create legislation perceived as targeting the rights of adherents of any faith to hold and propagate their religion, except when they threaten the rights of people of other faiths. There is no alternative than for Nigerians to learn to live together peacefully and happily in a diverse, multi-religious society. Every government has a duty to use the powers and resources at its disposal to harness and encourage peaceful coexistence among the people..

We urge the Kaduna State Government and the states of the North to always allow citizens to enjoy their rights to their faiths without discrimination. They must avoid the temptation of foisting any religion on citizens through covert or overt methods, or undermining the activities and entitlements of religious minorities. Steps must be taken to douse the tension and suspicions trailing the religious preaching bill.

Government must genuinely consult widely and make sure to carry everyone along in handling matters of faith.