The Christian Association of Nigeria, Niger State chapter, said it will not take legal action against the state government over the introduction of a licence for preaching.
The state’s Bureau for Religious Affairs had recently introduced a Da’awah Registration Form and Certification Process for preachers, sparking reports that the government had banned religious preaching.
However, CAN’s spokesman, Daniel Atori, said in a statement on Sunday that the directive did not affect Christian clerics and therefore would not warrant a lawsuit.
“The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Niger state chapter, will not sue the State Government because the statement, according to the Bureau of Religious Affairs, does not in any way affect Christians in the state.
“The said meeting by the Bureau was convened to introduce the Da’awah Registration Form and Certification Process, which he said is part of ongoing efforts to prevent misunderstandings and curb the spread of misleading preaching across the state,” Atori said.
He added that the bureau had no powers to arbitrarily ban clerics unless there was a clear violation of established guidelines.
Also clarifying the matter, the Bureau’s media aide, Haruna Mustapha, dismissed reports of a ban on preaching as “misinformation,” insisting the agency only sought to regulate preaching to curb misleading messages and promote religious harmony.
Mustapha said, “The attention of the Niger State Bureau for Religious Affairs has been drawn to misleading reports circulating on various social media platforms and Print Media that ‘Bureau For Religious Affairs has ban preaching in the state’, falsely claiming that the Bureau has suspended Islamic Scholars and Clerics from preaching in the state.
“This information is incorrect and amounts to misinformation. The Agency does not have the authority to arbitrarily ban Islamic Scholars or Clerics unless there is a clear violation of established guidelines.”
Mustapha explained that clerics who wish to preach in the state must obtain the Da’awah Registration Form, undergo evaluation, and be certified.
The registration, which began on September 4, will run until September 30.
Mustapha stated that the agency remains committed to upholding religious harmony and establishing standards for responsible religious outreach in Niger State.
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