The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Reverend Joseph Hayab, has provided clarity on the recent controversy surrounding an alleged directive requiring Christian preachers to submit their sermons to the government in advance.
According to the religious leader, the issue was resolved following a direct and honest dialogue with Niger State Governor, Umar Bago.
Speaking during an interview with News Central TV, Reverend Hayab recounted a meeting with the governor in which he expressed why Christian pastors and evangelists could not comply with such a requirement, emphasizing the spiritual and dynamic nature of Christian preaching.
“In Christianity, it is true that we prepare for our messages and sometimes even write down notes,” Hayab explained. “But much of what we preach is based on inspiration, we pray, we reflect, and we wait on God for direction. What comes out in the pulpit is not merely a manuscript; it is often a divine message.”
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He questioned the logic behind submitting something so spiritually driven to government bodies. “How do I hand over divine inspiration to the governor, or to the police, or to a committee?” he asked rhetorically. “They are not God, and they cannot preempt what God will say through His servant at any given moment.”
The discussion with Governor Bago reportedly brought clarity and eased tensions that had begun to surface within the Christian community across the state and beyond.
Hayab said the governor clarified that there was no formal bill mandating preachers to submit sermons ahead of time, but rather that the intention was to curb inciting messages that could cause division or unrest, a concern Hayab acknowledged as valid but emphasized must be handled with caution and respect for religious freedom.
“Once the governor explained the true context of the directive, we found no reason to be alarmed,” the CAN chairman said. “He made it clear that it wasn’t about suppressing religion or censoring pastors, but about maintaining peace and order.”
Hayab also pointed fingers at how the situation was initially reported in the media, noting that the early coverage distorted the facts and triggered anxiety within the Christian community.
He argued that the misunderstanding could have been avoided had the information been presented with greater accuracy and context.
“When the matter reached the press, the tone and framing created an impression that the government was moving toward religious suppression,” he noted. “That wasn’t the case, and once we got accurate information, we made sure to relay that to our members so they wouldn’t panic unnecessarily.”
The controversy began earlier this month after reports circulated suggesting that Christian preachers in Niger State would be required to submit their sermons to government authorities for approval.
This was widely viewed as a potential infringement on religious freedom and led to public outcry from various religious groups.
However, the Niger State government has since clarified that there is no law or executive order mandating such a requirement.
Instead, officials stated that the government is working to prevent the misuse of religious platforms to spread hate speech or incite violence, especially in a state with diverse religious and ethnic groups.
Reverend Hayab emphasized that while CAN supports efforts to foster peace and unity, such measures must not compromise the autonomy and sacred responsibilities of religious leaders.
“Our role as spiritual shepherds is divinely guided. Oversight should never translate into interference in our core mandate of preaching the word of God.”
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