Monday 7 March 2016

Preaching Without License To Attract N200,000 Fine in Kaduna


Kaduna state governor is set to ban churches and mosques from using loudspeakers indiscriminately and clerics must obtain licenses.


The Kaduna State House of Assembly is currently working on a bill sent to it by the Executive Arm and when passed into law, would punish people preaching in the state without license, Pulse has gathered.
According to the bill, used of loud speakers in all churches and mosques will attract punishment while clerics who preach without license would pay a fine of N200, 000.
Pulse gathered that the Bill sent to the State House of Assembly by Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir Ahmad Elrufai, has passed through first and second reading.
The bill is now in a committee level anchored by the Chairmen of Christian and Islamic affairs. It was gathered that the committee will soon call for a public hearing for the people of the State to drop their input.
The bill for a law to substitute the Kaduna State religious preaching law, 1984, “would stop playing or circulation of “all cassettes, CDs, flash drives or any other communication gadgets containing religious recordings from accredited preachers other than inside one’s house, porch, Church, Mosques and other designated places of worship.”
It was gathered that use of loudspeaker for religious purposes “other than inside a mosques or church and the surrounding areas outside the stipulated prayer times is also banned if the bill become law.
Sales or playing of any cassette containing “religious recordings with abusive language are also banned if the bill scales through,” it was gathered.
The purported bill has thrown many Kaduna residents into debate especially on Social Media. While others welcome the idea, some are expressing fears. The religious committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly is yet to fix a date for Public hearing.  

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