Northern Christians challenge N8bn religious budget allocation

The Northern Christian Association (NCA) has urged the Federal Government to account for what it considers an uneven distribution of funds for religious projects in the proposed 2026 budget.

The association said figures contained in the 2026 Appropriation Bill showed that about N8.05 billion had been set aside for church and mosque projects, but argued that the allocation heavily favoured one religious group.

In a statement released on Monday, NCA Chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab, said the association had no objection to government supporting faith-based projects. However, he insisted that any such expenditure must comply with the constitutional principles of fairness, equity and transparency.

According to the NCA, about N1.91 billion has been proposed for seven church projects, while roughly N6.14 billion is earmarked for 52 mosque projects.

Hayab said the figures had revived concerns among Christians about what he described as unequal treatment in government policies.

“How long will Nigerians continue to read stories that expose the hypocrisy of our leaders?” he asked.

He warned that policies perceived to favour one group over another could deepen divisions and weaken national cohesion.

“The partiality, lack of equity and unequal treatment of citizens by government and political leaders are among the major factors responsible for division, distrust, segregation and the absence of genuine unity and love among Nigerians,” he said.

Hayab noted that Christians had remained patient over the years in the interest of peace and national unity, but argued that successive administrations had mistaken that restraint for weakness.

He maintained that the growing perception of discrimination and double standards in governance was undermining public confidence, despite the Constitution guaranteeing equal treatment for all citizens irrespective of religion.

“Government should not be seen to promote policies that suggest preferential treatment for one religious group over another,” Hayab stated.

The association stressed that its position should not be interpreted as opposition to Islam, Christianity or government partnerships with religious organisations. Rather, it said its demand was for an equitable and transparent process in the use of public funds.

The NCA called on the Federal Government to clarify the basis for the allocations and review them where necessary, insisting that budget decisions should promote fairness, strengthen national unity and reinforce public trust in government institutions.