Catholic Bishops in Nigeria have rejected the Bill seeking to establish the National Council Christian Education current before the National Assembly.
The bill was sponsored by Hon. Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum, and five other lawmakers at the House of Representatives.
In statement signed by the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, the bishops said the proposed legislation is unnecessary.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had however expressed support for the Bill, saying it would help formalise Christian Education as a course of study in educational institutions.
But the Catholic bishops said it will impede on the preservation of doctrinal differences among the various Christian denominations.
”The Bill is unnecessary and impracticable because of our doctrinal differences. Furthermore, our juridirical autonomy in terms of education is being surrendered to government”, the statement reads.
“CAN should undertake a needs assessment if the needs of Christians in Nigeria that will require the support of government.
“Asking government to establish National Council for Christian Education simply because Muslims have one is counter productive.
“It is imperative to revisit and properly examine the CAN’s original purpose as opposed to what was expressed in the Bill presented to the National Assembly.”
The bishops maintained that if CAN wants to tackle some of the challenges facing Christians, it should initiate a bill to address the incessant unprovoked attacks on Christians in the north, denial of access to lands to build churches and religious institutions and discriminating against Christians in admission to courses in higher institutions in the northern part of the country.
The bishops also said should CAN still feels the need to establish the Council for Christian Education, it should be ready to address the problem of doctrinal differences.
