IMPERVIOUS to the provisions prohibiting both states and the Federal Government from adopting any religion as state religion in the 1999 Constitution, the House of Representatives is considering a bill on the wearing of hijab in Nigerian schools and establishments. Entitled, ‘Religious Discrimination (Prohibition, Prevention) Bill, 2021,’ the bill has designs on legalising the use of the Muslim veil in the country. The proposed law is controversial and provocative, and is capable of fuelling the dangerous descent into violent religious sectarianism in the country.

Unequivocally, the constitution establishes in Section 10: “The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion.” It is argued that diversity comes in many forms: thought and speech; dress and physical appearance; language; religion; values, attitudes, and lifestyles. What is important is that one should not be suppressed against or promoted above the others. One cornerstone of liberal democracy is religious tolerance, which presupposes that adherence or non-adherence to faith is an individual choice. Therefore, it is the duty of the government and the right of the people not to tolerate the intolerant in the society.

Hijab, a veil worn by Muslim women, has deeply polarised Nigeria. In the past few weeks, the school system in Kwara State has not known peace over the wearing of hijab. An attempt by the state government to impose hijab on Christian missionary schools is being resisted by the in-grant Christian colleges. At the same time, the Muslims are adamant that a court has already declared hijab to be worn to school. The stalemate has led to the destruction of church and school property and protest rallies by the antagonists. While hijab has become the cause célèbre, education, the bedrock of modern society, has become irrelevant, a victim of the squabbling over religion.

The question is: Should hijab be allowed in Christian-named schools? The blunt truth is that Nigeria is not managing its religious pluralism rightly. It is simply not right to conclude that these schools have been taken over by the government. The argument is that veils are against the original Christian heritage of the schools’ founding missionaries. Just in 2016, Osun State underwent a related cataclysm when its then governor, Rauf Aregbesola, implemented a similar policy. In some schools, pupils went to school wearing the dresses of their faiths. The chaos was unimaginable. In Lagos, the hijab issue is pending before the Supreme Court after the appellate court decided that the veil could be worn to public schools. It is unfortunate that the Kwara government failed to learn from these experiences.

By getting entangled in the hijab controversy, the House has lost its focus, neglecting the pressing issues of development. This should change. It should concentrate on critical legislative imperatives like the Petroleum Industry Bill, the repeal of the Railway Act 1955 and laws to enhance economic development and security, and reduce corruption. It is a shame on the lawmakers that the PIB has suffered undue delay in the National Assembly since its original introduction in 2008. Nigerians are undergoing transport pains, but the main hindrance – the Railway Act – is left untouched. The outcry over restructuring to preserve the federation is just noise making to the pampered parliamentarians. Although the 2023 general election is not too far away, the National Assembly has yet to undertake a comprehensive review of the Electoral Act to make elections in Nigeria transparent, free from violence and conform to international standards.

Across the globe, the hijab issue has caused serious divisions, but Nigerian states can learn from the British example. Essentially, the decision was decentralised, even though a unitary system operates there. As such, there is no ban on Islamic dress in the United Kingdom, but schools are allowed to decide their own dress code after a 2007 directive which followed several high-profile court cases, states the BBC. States in Nigeria should consider this common sense formula.

All forms of religious extremism should be condemned and fought to a standstill. Where was the National Assembly when Mubarak Bala, head of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, was seized by the police and charged for blasphemy? Where are the lawmakers each time bottles of alcoholic drinks are seized from non-Muslims and are irritatingly destroyed by Hisbah police? Does Sharia law have effect on non-Muslims? The arrogance of religion is seriously undermining the peaceful co-existence of Nigeria’s various religious groups. It is a verifiable fact that countries that promote political religion are either economically backward or perennially struggling with the challenges of nation building.

One of the greatest tragedies of education in Nigeria was the brazen take-over of mission schools in the military era. Undoubtedly, that is the foundation of the current crisis in which state governments are able to dictate to public schools without taking into consideration the sensibilities of religious practices when the missionaries established the schools. It was an impetuous, centralising decision that has served no real purpose. Using legalism alone might not suffice to resolve it. States have to think. All faiths and non-faiths should be treated equally. There are good reasons for wearing school uniforms. School uniforms nourish a sense of equality and promote a feeling of community. There is also a longstanding aversion to public expressions of faith in schools. The rational approach is to return these schools to the missions that established them originally. Additionally, students who attend a school belonging to a particular faith should abide by the uniform code of that school, no matter their own faith.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/house-of-reps-provocative-hijab-bill/%3famp

When your religion is a religion of piece then you have no peace

All faiths and non-faiths should be treated equally. There are good reasons for wearing school uniforms. School uniforms nourish a sense of equality and promote a feeling of community. There is also a longstanding aversion to public expressions of faith in schools.

The rational approach is to return these schools to the missions that established them originally. Additionally, students who attend a school belonging to a particular faith should abide by the uniform code of that school, no matter their own faith.

Words on marble.Hope some of those opposing this rational reasoning on this thread can see where you all got it wrong.

https://www.nairaland.com/6468697/hijab-red-meat-bigotry-farooq#100045319

Kingspin:
When your religion is a religion of piece then you have no peace

Well said. "What this stupid bill means is that even the private Christian universities built/managed with their monies would now have to "accommodate" Muslims and hijabis against their set up rules."

Them no get any beta thing to do for there constituency pass doing wetin no add any economic value....

Insecurity dey dere dem no find solutions to that na Hijab dey dere head...m

I'm just laughing at those who think Nigeria with northern muslims in it can ever get better.
Nigeria is like a car on high speed in reverse gear

This is MISCHIEF in The House of Representatives.

The jihad on the larger scale is getting clearer


What this stupid bill means is that even the private Christian universities built/managed with their monies would now have to "accommodate" Muslims and hijabis against their set up rules


This is for the idiots that were saying government tax funds the missionaries schools

Does covenant that was built on Christian values and never handled to government taxpayers money also deserve to be told who to accept into their University?


I hope you can see they weren't looking for education in kwara but playing Taqiya on you


As usual it doesn't concern you because you fear islamic terrorists but christianity is the only reason why there is freedom of speech/democracy in this country and globally


Once they suppress christianity, you so called free thinkers would realize christianity gave you all the luxury of freedom


Just like the north is a banana republic running parallel laws and constitution to accommodate the Islamic backwardness of life, so is the constitution you put your faith in useless and only effective because of the largely Christian south



Know this and know peace

There are more pressing issues that needs the attention of these dishonorables

can the government just banned religion??

Clueless useless bunch of deluded people in House!!!
To think that these people don't deliberate on weighty issues rather than such as hijab is sickening!!!
Very unproductive bunch!!!
I'll keep advocating for a paradigm shift via electing new visionary political actors for Nigeria...these lots are lost and gone south already! SMH

Proactivity Leads To Productivity!!!
@Seniorwriter

Bunch of Jokers

So, Shell Petroleum is out with an exclusive information..



It's a clause within the PIB Bill that is aimed at granting Dangote the sole right to export crude out of the Country... Imagine. Time for another protest Nigerians. Spread the word.



Post this information on your timeline across all your social media handles to sensitive and inform people........ Let's kill this bill before it sees the light of the day..

Waiting for the traditionalist bill too. Every Religion should be protected by Law and no Religion is superior to the other

If you want your child to use hijab send her to Muslim school, government school is public school, simple

Problematic set of people

Nonsense

Apc change, . If goodluck had been in aso rock, atleast we would only be complaining about looting, Omo buhari is giving us upper cut from all angles. . Thanks to the south west. with their block head. .

Islamization agenda

Nor be lie ;DNor be lie

Oga o
Buhari it shall never be well with you

Make dem kukuma islamise Nigeria...seems all this legislature once dem reach that chamber na their anus dem dey use think...bunch of fools...we have thriving issues on ground na ijab be the one wey dey important pass..

H..

Why should anyone be stopped from wearing hijab na!

No one is being stopped from putting on provocative wears.

fulanilisation of Nigerian just begun