The National Conference on Tuesday resolved that in order to distance
\ngovernment from involvement in religious matters, henceforth, no
\ngovernment, at any level, should use public funds in sponsorship of any
\nreligious programme, especially pilgrimages for any category of citizens,
\nincluding government functionaries.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It was also agreed that apex religious bodies in the country be allowed to
\nhandle all matters relating to pilgrimage through the Pilgrims Commissions
\nduly managed by them under a law to be passed by the National Assembly to
\nregulate their functions and protect pilgrims.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It however agreed that government, in performance of its oversight
\nresponsibility to Nigerians, shall provide normal consular services for
\nthe pilgrims through the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
\nestablished Nigerian foreign missions in the relevant destinations.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In arriving at these decisions, the Conference relied on the
\nrecommendations of the Committee on Religion which had Bishop Felix
\nAjakaiye and Alhaji Nurudeen Lemu as co-chairmen.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Twice, during the presentation of the report by Lemu, and against the
\nconference rules of procedure, the hall rose to applaud the committee for
\nits sound analysis, thorough handling and simplification of knotty issues
\nand for coming up with daring recommendations.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Conference Deputy Chairman, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, said the
\nconstitution of the Committee on Religion was the most difficult
\nassignment in terms of membership during the inauguration of all the
\ncommittees.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He said this was due to the sensitive nature of the assignment and the
\nfact that \u201cpeople can change their political views, but they may not
\nchange their religious views,\u201d adding that the committee had handled the
\nassignment with diligence and compassion.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The applause accorded the committee did not however take away opportunity
\nfor criticisms by some delegates who said members of the committee had
\navoided tackling some critical issues and answering questions Nigerians
\nwould expect them to answer.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Some delegates criticized the committee for its silence on the fate of
\nmission schools which had in the past served as moral training grounds for
\nyoung people who grew up with such morals for the betterment of the
\nsociety.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Senator Femi Okurunmu accused the committee of shying away from the
\ncrucial issue of whether Nigeria is a secular or religious state;
\nexplaining that this became necessary because Section 10 of the
\nconstitution has been given different interpretations by different people
\nwith regard to the secularity of Nigeria.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He suggested that Section 10 be amended to make it quite explicit that
\nNigeria is a secular state so that the misinterpretation can be put to
\nrest.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Professor Ambrose Okoli also faulted the committee on the issue of where
\nworship centres should be sited; he said building of worship centres
\nrequires regulation to avoid noise pollution because \u201ca man in search of
\nsalvation should do it quietly between him and God.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The committee stated that central to the issue of religious harmony in
\nNigeria was the elimination of religious discriminations and prejudices
\nand went ahead to recommend that Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution
\nshould be reaffirmed and upheld in practice.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution which deals with prohibition of state
\nreligion states that, \u201cThe Government of the Federation or of a state
\nshall not adopt any religion as state religion.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
However, while this recommendation was applauded, the Conference was yet
\nto decide on the committee\u2019s suggestion for the establishment of a
\nReligious Equity Commission (REC) with the statutory mandate of advocacy,
\nenforcement of constitutional religious rights such as freedom of
\nreligion, freedom to acquire land for religious purposes, among others.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Delegates said during clause-by-clause consideration of the report that
\nthe National Human Rights Commission should be empowered to handle such
\nissues instead of setting up another commission at a time the issue of
\ndevolution of power was being seriously contemplated while another group
\nwas against it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The committee had envisaged the REC to serve as a platform that would
\nbring individuals of the major religions in Nigeria to interact and
\ncrystalise ideas that would foster unity and tolerance; as well as monitor
\nand investigate and expose cases of religious discrimination and
\nviolation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The body was also meant to monitor cases of religious extremism – both in
\nideology and practice – and formulate counter narratives that are balanced
\nand tolerant to neutralise such extremism.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It would have equally served as a watch dog and enforcer of religious
\nrights of all persons, thereby creating confidence and trust in every
\nNigerian no matter their religious affiliations while also monitoring and
\ninvestigating cases of hate speeches and utterances meant to incite
\nreligious tension and prosecute persons responsible.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The committee noted that the restoration of ethics, culture, morals and
\ncore values that promote a sense of belonging among individuals and
\nconstituent groups within a nation-state was essential to the process of
\nnation building.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It drew attention to the complexity and nuances in nation-building, and
\nconcluded that religions, being repository of teachings about justice,
\nethics, morality and humanness could be used as veritable instruments of
\nbinding people of different cultures together within a state.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The committee disclosed further, \u201cDespite that its peoples are intensely
\nreligious, Nigeria is losing the moral compass for nation-building. Many
\nfactors contribute to this. There is however evidence from anthropological
\ndata that most Nigerian cultures showed greater appreciation of the core
\nvalues of honesty, justice, ethics, and morality.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe committee is of the view that Nigerians should return to those shared
\ncore values of their forebears and our faith traditions which are anchored
\non the sacred values of honesty, justice and the love of one another in
\norder to build a truly united nation-state.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Conference, in its deliberation and decision, mandated the National
\nOrientation Agency to put in place a strong advocacy in collaboration with
\nreligious institutions to promote core values in the Nigerian society.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In a bid to reinvent the African culture of courtesy, politeness, honesty,
\nintegrity, communal interdependence and peaceful co-existence which it
\nsaid were rapidly being eroded in the Nigerian society, the committee
\nsuggested that children must be taught their mother tongue or language of
\ntheir immediate community during the first three years of basic education.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In addition, it said learning of Nigerian history should be included in
\nprimary and secondary school curricula; while social studies curriculum
\nshould be reviewed to reflect Nigeria\u2019s cultural values of respect for
\nelders, hospitality, and communal interdependence, modesty in morals and
\nin dressing.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Conference, in another resolution, said henceforth, hate speeches and
\nsermons meant to create incitement among Nigerians should be criminalise;
\nand those involved prosecuted.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Delegates also resolved that profit-making businesses carried out by
\nreligious bodies like churches and mosques should pay taxes as a way of
\ncontributing to the growth of the economy.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Henceforth, by the decision of the Conference on Tuesday, nobody wishing
\nto convert to any religion of his or her choice should be subjected to any
\nform of victimization whatsoever.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Based on the recommendation of the committee, Conference resolved that
\npayment of welfare allowances be made by government to men and women
\nparticularly the most vulnerable members of the society.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It was also agreed and resolved that government should, as a matter of
\nnational emergency initiate policies that would accelerate wealth creation
\nfor the teeming populace, particularly through creation of jobs.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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