The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has formally requested that President Bola Tinubu discard the proposed anti-preaching and hawking bill currently under consideration by the National Assembly. During a press conference in Lagos, PFN National Secretary Bishop David Bakare emphasized that the organization views the legislation as a discriminatory measure aimed specifically at the Christian community.
Bishop Bakare argued that the country’s current priority should be addressing urgent national issues such as food insecurity and public safety, rather than focusing on restrictions that do not provide relief to the populace. He noted that Nigeria possesses adequate existing laws that, if properly enforced, would effectively address societal order. The PFN leadership questioned the reasoning behind classifying preaching in commercial vehicles as a traffic hazard, suggesting the bill lacks a practical foundation.
Furthermore, the PFN expressed concern regarding the legislative process, suggesting that sensitive matters involving religion require broader public discourse before moving toward presidential approval. Bishop Bakare warned that the bill could unnecessarily create friction between the church and the state, urging the administration to reconsider the proposal and prioritize more pressing national challenges.
