Northern Christian group urges FG to appoint aides on religious affairs

The Northern Christian Religious Leaders Assembly (NOCRELA) is calling on Nigeria's Federal Government to establish dedicated senior special assistant roles for Christian and Muslim religious affairs. The group argues these appointments are a strategic necessity to bridge divides and cultivate grassroots trust.

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appointing dedicated aides would represent a strategic national necessity to harness the moral authority of faith institutions in solving everyday human challenges.

Rev. Simon Dolly-Kif, the association's Secretary-General, stated that these aides would harness the moral authority of faith institutions to tackle everyday human challenges. He emphasized that in many areas with minimal government presence, churches and mosques act as vital lifelines, running clinics, schools, and welfare programs. Religious leaders possess deep community reach and moral authority, and engaging them through credible advisors could enhance public trust and signal that all Nigerians are valued.

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in many communities across the country where government presence is minimal, churches and mosques serve as primary lifelines for ordinary citizens by running health clinics, community schools, and welfare programmes.

Dolly-Kif outlined key responsibilities for the proposed advisers. They would inform the President on policies impacting citizens socially and religiously. Their duties would include fostering interfaith dialogue to deepen tolerance, mobilizing faith-based institutions for public health and poverty reduction initiatives, and acting as early-warning systems to prevent local religious friction from escalating into violence. He stressed that leveraging the influence of respected faith leaders is a critical, untapped asset for national healing and stability.

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Religious leaders command moral authority and have deep reach into communities where formal government structures are thin.

"It is time to leverage every available asset for nation-building, including the moral voice of religion," Dolly-Kif urged. NOCRELA believes that governance recognizing and engaging all major faith communities will reinforce Nigeria's commitment to a prosperous nation, especially amid economic pressures, insecurity, and social tensions testing the country's resilience.

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Engaging them through credible advisers can enhance public trust and reinforce the message that every Nigerian is valued, regardless of faith.