The Christian Association of Nigeria has rejected the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, “because it would snuff life out of the church and rank the church as a secular institution under secular control.”

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had on August 7 signed into law, the Companies and Allied Matters Bill, 2020. The bill which has been passed by the National Assembly replaced the 1990 CAMA.

The Christian body described as “satanic”, section 839 (1) and (2) of the law which empowers the supervising minister “to suspend trustees of an association (in this case, the church) and appoint the interim managers to manage the affairs of the association for some given reasons.”

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Dr David Oyedepo, had also advised the Federal Government to expunge the part of the law that gives the minister the power to remove the board of trustees of churches without recourse to the court.

CAN in a statement signed on Thursday by Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant on Media and Communications to CAN President, Rev Samson Ayokunle, noted that the Federal Government has declared war on the church if it moved on to implement the law.

The statement was titled, ‘Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) rejects CAMA Completely.’

The statement read in part, “The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria rejects outrightly the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 that was assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari recently.

“The law, to say the least, is unacceptable, ungodly, reprehensible, and an ill-wind that blows no one any good. It is a time bomb waiting to explode.

“While we are not against the government fighting corruption wherever it may be found, yet we completely reject the idea of bringing the church, which is technically grouped among the NGOs, under control of the government. The Church cannot be controlled by the government because of its spiritual responsibilities and obligations.”

CAN queried, “How can the government sack the trustee of a church which it contributed no dime to establish? How can a secular and political minister be the final authority on the affairs and management of another institution which is not political? How can a non-Christian head of government ministry be the one to determine the running of the church? It is an invitation to trouble that the government does not have power to manage.”

It advised the government to “face the business of providing infrastructure for the people. Let them focus on better health provision, food, education, adequate security employment, etc. The government should not be a busy body in a matter that does not belong to it. The government does not have the technical expertise to run the church of God because of its spiritual nature.”

“If the government is bent on imposing a law on us which the entire Church in Nigeria is against, then, they have declared war on Christianity and the agenda to destroy the Church which we have spoken against before now is coming to the open more clearly. If you cannot give us good amenities of life, we would not allow you to take away our liberty to worship our Maker,” it vowed.

CAN, therefore, called on Buhari to “stop the implementation of the obnoxious and ungodly law until the religious institutions are exempted from it” and “return the law to the National Assembly for immediate amendment.”

Seun:
There are many other terrible things in that law.

seunlayi:
Govt can control churches. Can should shut up

seunlayi:
Govt can control churches. Can should shut up

seunmsg:
Rejecting the new law in the media won't have any effect. The new CAMA is now a law that must be complied with by all afeected parties. If CAN feels that the law violates the fundamental and constitutional right of its members, they should go ahead and challenge the legality of the law in a court of competent jurisdiction. Anything other than that is just empty noise.

Marine54:
The govt should reverse the law immediately, CHURCH IS NOT Hotels and Bar that can be control be govt. CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST, IT CAN NOT BE CONTROL ANYONE ...

BeLookingIDIOT:
Where was this energy when it first emerged under GEJ?

Seun:
There are many other terrible things in that law.

Omooba77:
The Christian Association of Nigeria has rejected the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 , “ because it would snuff life out of the church and rank the church as a secular institution under secular control. ”
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , had on August 7 signed into law , the Companies and Allied Matters Bill , 2020 . The bill which has been passed by the National Assembly replaced the 1990 CAMA .
The Christian body described as “ satanic ” , section 839 ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) of the law which empowers the supervising minister “ to suspend trustees of an association ( in this case, the church ) and appoint the interim managers to manage the affairs of the association for some given reasons . ”
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide , Dr David Oyedepo , had also advised the Federal Government to expunge the part of the law that gives the minister the power to remove the board of trustees of churches without recourse to the court .
CAN in a statement signed on Thursday by Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant on Media and Communications to CAN President, Rev Samson Ayokunle , noted that the Federal Government has declared war on the church if it moved on to implement the law .
The statement was titled , ‘ Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) rejects CAMA Completely . ’
The statement read in part , “ The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria rejects outrightly the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 that was assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari recently .
“ The law , to say the least, is unacceptable , ungodly , reprehensible , and an ill - wind that blows no one any good . It is a time bomb waiting to explode .
“ While we are not against the government fighting corruption wherever it may be found , yet we completely reject the idea of bringing the church , which is technically grouped among the NGOs , under control of the government . The Church cannot be controlled by the government because of its spiritual responsibilities and obligations. ”
CAN queried , “ How can the government sack the trustee of a church which it contributed no dime to establish ? How can a secular and political minister be the final authority on the affairs and management of another institution which is not political ? How can a non - Christian head of government ministry be the one to determine the running of the church ? It is an invitation to trouble that the government does not have power to manage . ”
It advised the government to “ face the business of providing infrastructure for the people . Let them focus on better health provision , food , education , adequate security employment , etc . The government should not be a busy body in a matter that does not belong to it . The government does not have the technical expertise to run the church of God because of its spiritual nature . ”
“ If the government is bent on imposing a law on us which the entire Church in Nigeria is against , then , they have declared war on Christianity and the agenda to destroy the Church which we have spoken against before now is coming to the open more clearly . If you cannot give us good amenities of life , we would not allow you to take away our liberty to worship our Maker , ” it vowed .
CAN, therefore , called on Buhari to “ stop the implementation of the obnoxious and ungodly law until the religious institutions are exempted from it ” and “ return the law to the National Assembly for immediate amendment . ”

https://punchng.com/can-rejects-cama-says-govt-cannot-control-churches/

Omooba77:


A dog that will be lost will never hear the whistle of the hunter.....

Government wants to regulate religion and some kids are happy with the msg.

BabaRamota1980:


The churches brought this upon themselves.

There are many muslim communities just like Zakzaky group in North. They mind their business and never get involved in govt issues. Zakyzaky stays in govt business all the time. Thats why he is in trouble now.

Jonathan set a bad precedence when he will have these pastors meddling govt business. They got too comfortable and started commenting on what govt is doing or not doing. When you are a tax exempt organization, stay away from govt the best you can. Put a long distance between you and govt. Govt has all the rules and ways to fvk up anyone, if they choose to. These churches did same thing Zakyzaky did, started fvkng with govt. So now govt wants to fcvk with them too. Its unfortunate but its reality.

There is a pastor in America called Pastor Dollar or something like that. He used to condemn govt and live large and flaunt. One of their legislators got on his case and wanted to probe him and his church. The Pastor got the message at that point.

If CAMA can bring out same result in Nigerian pastors it will be great. The money they waste on acquiring jets and building for-profit private institutions should be better used in promoting wellbeing and supporting needs of communities and people. At the end of it people benefit when churches come to their aid in time of distress and need.

CodeTemplar:
So many people blinded by hate these days. Somebody steps up and says he want to regulate private relationship between churches and followers and foolísh folks are applauding it. One day they will tell you what to eat and what not to.

BabaRamota1980:


The churches brought this upon themselves.

There are many muslim communities just like Zakzaky group in North. They mind their business and never get involved in govt issues. Zakyzaky stays in govt business all the time. Thats why he is in trouble now.

Jonathan set a bad precedence when he will have these pastors meddling govt business. They got too comfortable and started commenting on what govt is doing or not doing. When you are a tax exempt organization, stay away from govt the best you can. Put a long distance between you and govt. Govt has all the rules and ways to fvk up anyone, if they choose to. These churches did same thing Zakyzaky did, started fvkng with govt. So now govt wants to fcvk with them too. Its unfortunate but its reality.

There is a pastor in America called Pastor Dollar or something like that. He used to condemn govt and live large and flaunt. One of their legislators got on his case and wanted to probe him and his church. The Pastor got the message at that point.

If CAMA can bring out same result in Nigerian pastors it will be great. The money they waste on acquiring jets and building for-profit private institutions should be better used in promoting wellbeing and supporting needs of communities and people. At the end of it people benefit when churches come to their aid in time of distress and need.

seunlayi:
Govt can control churches. Can should shut up