The Concerned Christian Youth Forum (CCYF) has vehemently opposed a newly enacted regulation by Niger State Governor Umar Bago, which mandates that all religious leaders submit their sermon content for governmental approval prior to public delivery.
In an official declaration signed by Paul James Adama, the forum’s convener, the policy was criticized as “poorly conceived, misguided, discriminatory, oppressive, and fundamentally anti-religious.”
The CCYF highlighted that Niger State has recently attracted negative attention, not only due to escalating security challenges but now also because of this controversial law. The regulation compels every religious preacher within the state to present their sermon notes for prior authorization before addressing their congregations.
While the forum acknowledged the risks posed by irresponsible, inflammatory, or hateful preaching, it emphasized that this law represents an unacceptable form of religious censorship and infringes upon constitutionally protected freedoms.
“This legislation constitutes blatant religious censorship and a serious breach of the fundamental human rights guaranteed under Sections 38 and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which safeguard freedom of thought and religion,” the statement asserted.
Furthermore, the CCYF referenced international human rights frameworks, including Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the 1981 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.
“These critical international agreements uphold the rights to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; the liberty to change one’s faith or beliefs; the freedom to practice and express religion; and the prohibition of discrimination and incitement based on religious grounds,” the forum explained.
The organization urged the state government to prioritize tackling pressing issues such as poverty, insecurity, and infrastructural deficits instead of imposing restrictions on religious expression.
“Considering Niger State’s dire security situation alongside its staggering poverty levels-where over 64% of residents live below the poverty line despite the state’s vast landmass-basic amenities like electricity, healthcare, potable water, and education remain largely inaccessible,” Adama remarked.
Drawing on 2022 statistics, the forum pointed out that the adult literacy rate in Niger State is a mere 38.1%, significantly trailing the national average of 63.16%, describing this as “deeply concerning.”
The CCYF linked the state’s insecurity to its economic hardships and underdevelopment, calling on the government to implement policies that genuinely improve livelihoods rather than divert attention through “an irrelevant, illogical, and unjustifiable law.”
In closing, the forum aligned itself with other concerned groups across religious and regional lines in condemning the oppressive and regressive legislation, while reaffirming its opposition to any form of religious incitement.
It appealed to Governor Bago’s administration to immediately repeal the law requiring preachers to obtain licenses and submit sermons for prior approval, emphasizing the importance of upholding peace, justice, constitutional rights, and international religious freedom commitments.
