PRESS RELEASE: AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF REGULATING AND SETTING STANDARDS AND FOR RELATED MATTERS, 2023
Our attention has been drawn to a fake news report on many online and prints media platforms tagged “a bill to regulate Christianity in Nigeria, and we wish to state that this is not true. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is promoting a bill at the National Assembly for the establishment of the National Council for Christian Education which is co-sponsored by our beloved Christian legislators as follows: House of Representatives:
- Shawulu Kwenmwun – Sponsor.
- Beni Lar
- Yusuf Ayo Tajudeen
- John Dyegh
- Solomon Bob
- Benjamin Mzondu
Distinguished Senators :
- Senator Binos Yaroe-
- Senator D Gyang. – co-sponsor
- Senator Abba
- Senator Emmanuel Bwacha
- Senator Lilian Ekwunife
- Senator Abba
The aim of the bill is to establish a regulatory council for Christian education that will oversee Christian curriculum development and monitor what our children are being taught in secular schools. It is our token contribution to preserve the sanctity of our faith and the innocence of our children.
Similarly, many theological schools in the country are sub-standard and their certicates are not recognized beyond the institutions that awarded them, yet they abound everywhere. This bill will harmonize their operations and set minimum standards that must be met before awarding certicates to their graduands. This bill, when passed, will formalize Christian education as a course of study in our tertiary institutions and accord recognition and validity to the certicates gotten from our Bible and theological schools and other Christian institutions in the country.
The report that the bill seeks to regulate Christianity or censor Christian preaching and preachers was totally mischievous and maliciously spewed to cause
Disaffection between CAN, the sponsors of the bill and the Christian community in Nigeria and ultimately scuttle our noble agenda to have a voice on matters that concern our faith and calling.
We, therefore, call on all Christians to unite and support this Bill till it becomes an Act. We thank all our brothers and sisters in the House of Representatives and the Senate who hearkened to our plea to sponsor and support this bill. By the grace of God, it will be passed into law in no distant time.
As we continue to pray for them, we enjoin all other Christian legislators to support the motion at the doors of their Chambers whenever it is called for a hearing or debate.
The Bill has gone through second reading, hoping to be called for a public hearing soon. We wish to encourage Christian leaders to prepare their memos in support of the Bill and be ready to present them when called upon to do so. We must be ready to defend what we believe is good for the body of Christ in Nigeria.
Please feel free to contact CAN National Headquarters for further clarifications on this bill at any time you are led to do so.
Wishing you every blessing.
Rev. Ozumba Emmanuel Nicodemus
National Director, Education, Youth and Women Development, CAN.
