The Religious Preaching Regulation law, 1984 before the Kaduna State House of Assembly seeking substitution was on Friday passed into law

The passage of the bill came three years after the bill faced serious criticism from different religious bodies and individuals.

The bill, which purpose is to regulate religious preaching in Kaduna State with a view of promoting religious harmony and peaceful co-existence amongst the residents of the state was brought to the House since 2016.

Presiding over the plenary, the Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi Shagali while reading the bill close by close said a state inter-faith Regulatory council has been established with a chairman to be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Secretary to the state.

Also, two members representing the Christian and Muslim faith, respectively, to be appointed by the Governor, among others.

According to the Speaker, the bill further has it that the above mentioned council shall hear and determine appeals brought before it arising from the decision of the local government inter-faith Committee and also has power to issue regulations considered necessary to guide the state inter-faith council and local government inter-faith committee in the performance of their functions under the bill if signed into law.

He further mentioned that the bill when signed into law, stipulates that in each of the 23 local Government areas of the state, a committee to be known as the Local Government Inter-faith Committee has to be established

According to him, the local Government Inter-faith committee shall consider and recommend to state Inter-faith Regulation Council all applications for the grant of licence to religious preachers as well as screen and recommend preachers for the grant of license among other functions.

The supplementary provision explained that all cassettes, compact disks (CDs), flash drives or any other communication gadgets containing religious recordings from accredited preachers may be played inside a private dwelling unit or vehicle, entrance porch (zaure), Church, Mosque and any other designated place of worship.

It further stated that any person who plays religious cassette or uses a loud speaker for religious purposes between the hours of 11pm to 4am in a public place, and uses a loudspeaker for religious purposes other than inside Church or Mosque commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years or pay a fine of less than N200,000.00 or both.

The bill added that any person who publicly insults or seeks to incite contempt any religion, by making false statements in such a manner as to be likely to lead to a breach of peace, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of not less than five years a fine of not less than N100,000.00 or both

Sen. Kabiru Gaya (APC-Kano), says he is still in the race for the Deputy President of the Senate.

Gaya, who made this known while briefing newsmen on Friday in Abuja, said though the All Progressives Congress (APC) had not made its position known on who to endorse for the position, he was optimistic to be chosen by the party.

On concern that he might not get the party’s endorsement because he is from same region with the number one citizen, President Muhammadu Buhari, Gaya said it was not a cause for concern.

According to him, there is no fear of lopsidedness or marginalisation of other regions because the party has zoned Speakership of the House of Representatives to the South West.

He said he was not against lawmakers from the South being prominently represented in the senate.

He, however, stressed that he worked tirelessly during the general elections to ensure that APC won in almost all local government areas under his constituency and should be considered.

“The party has not zoned the position yet but I think it should look inward”, NAN quoted him as saying.

“On the fear of lopsidedness, we have senate president zoned to the North and speaker to the south, so I think deputy president of the senate coming from North West is fair enough.

“I am not denying anybody from the South from being in our team but for the position of Deputy Senate President, I think it should be given to South West.

“Besides in the National Assembly we do not talk region, party or religion. We are senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that is what matters,” he said.

The lawmaker also declared support for Sen. Ahmad Lawan’s Senate Presidency bid, saying they would make a good team.

He further said, “In terms of experience, I think I am well placed to take the position, being a ranking senator and former governor among other advantages that I have.

Gaya, however, said he was fine with any decision the party came up with, adding that he would take it in good fate should the party not endorse him.

“If the party does not zone the deputy senate president to North West I will be fine with it but I want the party to do justice ahead of 2030,” he said.

Gaya is one of the five senators-elect, who have indicated interest in running for the position of the Deputy President of the Senate on June 11 when the 9th National Assembly will be inaugurated.

Others were Sen. Ovie Omo Agege (APC-Delta), Sen. Orji Uzo Kalu (APC-Abia), Sen. Francis Alimikhena (APC-Edo) and Sen. Ajayi Boroffice (APC-Ondo).