New Bill to Permit Wearing of Hijab in Nigerian Military Introduced at National Assembly
- Muslim women in the Nigerian military will be allowed to use hijab if a newly introduced bill in the House of Reps scales through
- The bill seeks to prohibit the military from discriminating against anyone wearing hijab
- Saidu Abdullahi, the member representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha federal constituency sponsored the bill which has passed second reading
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A new bill has been introduced at the House of Representatives seeking to compel the Armed Forces and para-military organisations in Nigeria to permit female officers to wear the Islamic veil, commonly known as hijab.
The bill, officially known as the Religious Discrimination (Prohibition, Prevention) Bill, 2020, has passed the second reading, The Punch reported.
Legit.ng gathers that the bill was sponsored by Saidu Abdullahi, the member representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha federal constituency.
Source: Facebook
Article 13 of the bill prohibits the military from discriminating against anyone wearing a hijab. Subsection two of the article states that anyone who contravenes the provision would have committed an offence, Daily Times reported.
Nigerians react
Banwo Ayobami Sylvester commented on Facebook:
"I blame the southern parts for politically supporting the northerns. Religion takes us no where in this country"
Evangelist Prince Olamide Oni said:
"I weep for Nigeria,the cogent issue facing the nation has become evil to them,while anything that is irrelevant is now more important."
Amasa Abubakar said:
"This is an excellent move. Even European countries allows the wearing of the Hijab. Hope this bill passes."
Legit.ng notes that the bill is being introduced at a time when the use of hijab has become a controversial issue in Nigeria.
In Kwara state, for instance, some missionary schools have refused to allow Muslim students to wear hijab, even after the state government intervened.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Bishop David Oyedepo criticised Muslims for demanding the wearing of Hijab in some mission schools in Kwara state.
Christians and Muslims have been at loggerheads over hijab-wearing for female students in 10 government grant-aided missionary schools in Kwara state.
However, the founder of the Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, during a sermon advised Muslims to leave Kwara mission schools and look for hijab-wearing schools for their children.
In a similar development, the Catholic Bishop of Ilorin Diocese, Most Rev. Paul Olawoore, has also rejected the Kwara government's directive on the use of hijab.
He said the church was not in agreement with the government over the use of hijab in mission schools.
Source: Legit.ng
