Anti-Preaching Bill: PFN Asks Tinubu to Decline Assent, Calls for Wider Consultation

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has called on President Bola Tinubu not to sign the anti-preaching and hawking bill awaiting legislative approval, saying the proposed law does not address the country’s most urgent concerns.

The Christian body said Nigeria should instead focus on tackling insecurity, hunger and economic hardship rather than introducing legislation it believes is unnecessary.

Addressing journalists after the PFN National Executive Council meeting in Lagos, National Secretary Bishop David Bakare argued that the country’s challenge lies in enforcing existing laws rather than creating new ones.

He said: “Many laws already exist in Nigeria which, if properly enforced, can bring sanity to different aspects of our national life. Our concern is that this law is not the urgent need of Nigerians at this time.”

Bakare questioned the basis for treating preaching in commercial vehicles as a traffic-related offence, insisting that more pressing traffic and public safety issues remain unresolved.

“We cannot understand how this has become a traffic offence in any form. There are other issues that can be considered traffic offences in Nigeria that have not been addressed,” he said.

The PFN also expressed reservations about the legislative process, saying it was uncertain about the bill’s progress in the House of Representatives following its approval by the Senate.

According to Bakare, the proposed legislation could create unnecessary friction between the government and the Christian community.

“Christians in Nigeria consider that law as being against the church. It is deliberately organised to stir up the church against the state,” he said.

He appealed to President Tinubu to return the bill for wider consultations with religious leaders and other stakeholders.

“Let the public debate it. Invite the relevant people who are directly affected by such laws to come and discuss it,” Bakare added.

The PFN reiterated that the bill should not take precedence over policies aimed at addressing the country’s economic and security challenges.

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