Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, has stirred controversy among religious leaders after announcing that clerics must obtain licences within two months and submit sermons for review.

Naijaonpoint reports that the governor, during a TVC interview, declared: “Everyone going to sermon on Friday should bring his scriptures for review.”

The statement has triggered debates across the state, with some praising it as a bold step towards peace, while others fear it could infringe on freedom of worship.

However, in defence of the governor, the Director-General of Niger State Religious Affairs, Umar Farooq, clarified that the new policy is not fresh but the revival of an edict from 1985.

“We have a law in Niger State… there has been an edict law since 1985, so it’s not a new policy. What we are trying to do now is to revive the law to make it useful, so that we can have peaceful environments and avoid creating tensions,” he said.

He added that the government has not banned preaching, but clerics must be careful with their utterances.

“Being a cleric does not give anyone the right to say whatever they want… Nobody has banned preaching in Niger State. The governor did not ban preaching, but all preachers must avoid spreading hatred, inciting violence, or insulting other people and institutions,” Farooq said, stressing that the goal is not to silence anyone but to sanitise the preaching space and ensure harmony.

The DG further revealed that the government will:

Issue forms through religious groups to register clerics and create a database.
Train preachers and build their capacity, after which certificates will be issued.
Ensure sects and associations act as guarantors for their preachers.

“When a preacher violates these things, we go after their groups because it’s their sect that knows them and will be their guarantors,” Farooq said.

‘Directive For Muslim Clerics Only’ – CAN

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, has clarified that the directive presently applies only to Islamic clerics under Da’awa registration.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Minna, the State CAN Chairman’s aide, Daniel Atori, explained: “When the news first broke, many thought it covered everyone, pastors, reverends and imams. But upon review, it became clear the directive was mainly for Islamic clerics under Da’awa registration.”

He linked the move to complaints about some preachers delivering inciting messages, particularly in areas where sermons allegedly challenged democracy and stirred unrest.

“At the Christian Association, we discovered that the directive was not applicable to Christians. The form available is strictly for the Islamic community,” Atori said.

Cleric Warns Against Extremism, Political Manipulation

Kano-based Islamic cleric, Jabeer Mukthar Salisu, said the directive may have been prompted by the rise of extremist preachers and sect rivalries.

“Clerics have followers, and anything they say, their followers take seriously. If a cleric is known for inciting violence, the government has a responsibility not to license such a person,” he argued.

He warned, however, that people fear the law could be abused. “What worries many is whether government will use this law to silence voices it doesn’t like. Until guidelines are issued, people will remain concerned,” Salisu expressed.

He also cautioned that future governments might politicise the law: “Even if this government is sincere, another might use it to push their own agenda.”

On his part, Legal practitioner, Barrister Usman Yau, insisted the governor is acting legally.

“The governor is not doing anything outside the constitution. The edict has been there, and state governments have the legal power to enact and enforce laws to promote peace and order,” he said.

Yau explained that edict laws introduced during military rule were carried over into democracy, making them still binding.