The Concerned Christian Youth Forum (CCYF) has denounced a new policy introduced by Governor Umar Bago of Niger State, Nigeria, requiring preachers to submit their sermons for approval before public delivery.
In a statement signed by convener Paul James Adama, the CCYF described the law as “ill-thought, ill-advised, anti-religious, discriminatory, oppressive and preposterous.”
“We do not subscribe to reckless, hateful and inciteful preaching,” the statement reads. “However, we wish to, in the most unambiguous terms denounce and reject such a law and dismiss it as… a gross violation of the fundamental human rights of the people as it relates to their freedom of thought and religion which is enshrined in Sections 38 and 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The CCYF cited international law, including Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which consider restrictions on freedom of religion as oppressive and illegal. “Under international law… any form of restriction on the rights of people to exercise their freedom of religion” is generally considered oppressive and illegal.
The statement highlights Niger State’s challenges, including widespread poverty with over 64% of the population living below the poverty line, poor infrastructure, and an average adult literacy rate of 38.1% as of 2022. “Tackling these underlying developmental issues should be the concerns of any well-meaning government and not stifling religious freedom.”
The CCYF joins other voices in denouncing the law and appeals to the Niger State government to “jettison forthwith, the law subjecting preachers to mandatory licensing and requiring preachers to submit their sermon notes for verification and approval.” This is in the interest of “good governance, peace, justice, respect for the Rule of Law, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the relevant instruments and charters of the United Nations on religious freedom.”