By Moh Bello Habib
Zaria
Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) has kicked against the proposed religious preaching law in Kaduna state.
This was contained in a three-page letter addressed to Clerk of the House of Assembly by the chairman and secretary, Ulama Council of the Group, Dr Nuhu Tahir Tajuddeen and Muhammad Gimba Alfa, respectively, in Zaria, yesterday.
The letter read in part: “Further to our letter of February 18, 2016, on input on a Bill for a Law to substitute the Kaduna State Religious Preaching Law, 1984.”
“We are glad to make this presentation as our contribution to the proposed ‘substitution’ but apparently akin amendment of the law in fact the prevailing circumstances make it necessary to enact the law though it is always very easy to make law but extremely difficult to enforce or implement it to the letter.
“We have perused into the Regulations of Religious preaching Edict, No.7 of 1984 Vis-à-vis the proposed Bill for its substitution, 2016 and wish to forward our input we hope that the Kaduna state House of Assembly will find it our input useful.”
The group advocated for raising a 10-man Committee of Jama’atu Nasril Islam with equal representation of Izala and Darika groups in case of Muslims to be chaired by Executive Secretary, Bureau for Religious Affairs (Islamic matters) and Similar Committee for Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) with also equal representation of Catholic and Anglican to be chaired by Executive Secretary Bureau for Religious Affairs (Christian matters).
It also advised Interfaith Advisory Committee with six members from JNI and CAN be formed to handle the licensing of preachers or any other religious matter in the state.
“On the failure of newly recruited staff to earn their salaries, the Governor will surely take a holistic look at the whole situation after the ongoing screening exercise with a view to answering a few questions surrounding the situation”, Fanwo said.
