From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Christian leaders under the National Prayer Altar have criticised the Federal Government’s decision to recognise the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) certificates as equivalent to those issued by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO). They warned that this move undermines Nigeria’s secular foundation and elevates one religion above others.
In a statement signed by Prof. Kontein Trinya, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel, Prof. A. A. Emmanuel, Prof. Chinwe Nwagbo, Prof. Olanrewaju Awotona, and 107 others, the group expressed concern that NBAIS certificates are now accepted for admission into Nigerian and foreign universities, a development they described as “inappropriate” for a faith-based institution.
“The NBAIS is, without controversy, a purely Islamic body. The curriculum is strictly Islamic, the subjects are exclusively Islamic, and the objectives are wholly Islamic. There is nothing secular about NBAIS,” the statement read.
The group argued that recognising NBAIS as a national examination body equivalent to WAEC or NECO violates the Nigerian Constitution. “For the federal government to approve and recognise it as a national examination body equivalent to NECO or WAEC is a clear violation of the Nigerian Constitution,” they said, adding that it implies the government has made Islamic religious education a national curriculum, sending a message that Islam is the favoured religion.
They also highlighted the lack of a comparable Christian examination body with national status, calling the policy discriminatory and a threat to national unity. “It is discriminatory and unfair to Christian students who do not have access to any such Christian body recognised by the Federal Government for the study of Christianity with certification. It is also divisive, as it elevates one religion over others, which is against the spirit of our secular state,” they stated.
The leaders urged President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, and other stakeholders to reverse the policy to uphold justice and constitutional integrity. “The Nigerian state must not be seen to promote one religion over another. We must all rise to defend our constitution and protect the unity and peace of our nation,” they concluded.