The federal government has finally broken silence following bones of contention raised recently by the controversial Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA).
Recalls that the law, since being introduced by the government, has been generating a ripple of controversies with top Nigerian clergies including Primate Elijah Ayodele and Pastor David Oyedepo raising eyebrows.
On Tuesday, September 1, the federal Govt said the law was not introduced to oppress the churches and mosques in Nigeria as contrarily perceived.
The senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Ita Enang, made this revelation while meeting with some leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abuja.
He explained that the act has raised many misconceptions and many politicians from the opposition have been using the opportunity to label the act as anti-religious.
Enang said ”Unnecessary misconceptions have enveloped this CAMA law with deliberate misinformation and falsehood being championed by some persons who may not have fully and in fact, personally read and digested the provision of the Act.
”So, I consider it appropriate and responsible to appear before you and other fora to make these explanations. First, the bill as it then was, was not an executive bill transmitted by President Buhari to the legislature.
”It was initiated by a senator and member of the House of Representatives (names withheld) in the respective chambers at the behest of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and support of the Ministry of Trade and Investment,”
Meanwhile, the controversy generated by the signing into law of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), is gathering momentum on a daily basis, especially among the Christians.
It was in reports that the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) south-south, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to revoke the contentious section for peace to reign in the nation.
It was gathered that the Vp, Bishop Simeon Oklahoma, made the call during a briefing with newsmen in Warri, where he said that the rancour that greeted the signing of the law should cause a ‘rethink’ on the part of the federal government.
Oklahoma, who is the founder of Flock of Christ Mission, stated that those who smuggled in the controversial section 839 (1) & (2) are enemies of Nigeria, adding that the church would not sit back and watch anyone violate its rights.
Bishops Okah also explained that as a travelled preacher, the regulations in place in Western nations like the United States of America and Britain are basically to protect Govt’s investment in the churches, since as non_governmental organisations, they receive grants from the govt, hence pastors have to account for the funds.
”But in Nigeria, the Govt has no investment whatsoever in churches and so has no moral right to regulate what it has no inputsin,” he said
The Bishop noted that the church has kept the law by paying taxes and subjecting to all regulations, its businesses such as hospitals and schools which are profit-oriented.
He further emphasised that it is not in the place of govt to attempt to remove trustees and foist leadership on a religious organisation, as that would amount to a denial of religious freedom which is against the spirit of the Nigerian constitution.
