Group Condemns Discrimination Against Christians in Schools

Northern Christian elders have alerted that children were being denied registration in some institutions and educational programmes because they had Christian names.

Speaking under the umbrella of the Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF), the elders also described as a formula for confusion, the practice of people advocating that members of a particular religion vote exclusively for one of their own.

NOSCEF, in a communiqu‚ signed by Mr. Alex Mshelia and made available to THISDAY over the weekend, condemned "the practice of Christians who join unbelievers to mar the political and economic policies of the Nigerian nation for their selfish ends."

It stated that though churches in some Northern states were being demolished and indigenisation certificates were not being issued to children with Christian names constitutional means of seeking redress remained the decent channel and was being relentlessly pursued.

While acknowledging the plurality of faiths in the Nigerian state, it advised that "the apparatus of government must no longer be used to discriminate against us. In this wise, we call on the NTA stations in Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara and elsewhere to immediately accept to air Christian programmes where they have hitherto refused to do so."

The forum which said it was worried that the spirit of violence, arson and destruction of lives and property has a stronghold on the nation, enjoined Christians to fast and pray towards the dislodgment of the spirit.

It urged Nigerian Christians not to compromise or sell their birth right in any situation just as it advised them to seek elective offices.