The House of Representatives called on the ministry of education to ensure that religious studies were taught in accordance with the law.

This came after Hon Beni Lar (Plateau:PDP) at the House plenary on Tuesday, 11 July 2017 raised a motion on the Federal Ministry of Education’s revised curriculum which merges Christian Religious Knowledge (CRS), Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK) and Civic Education as a new subject. Hon. Lar observed that the Ministry arrived at its decision without due consultation with parents and stakeholders and made the subject compulsory at the Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE).

Speaking further, Hon. Lar also noted the new curriculum, which is in conflict with certain religious beliefs also makes, the teaching of those beliefs compulsory. She Recalled which section 10 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 makes Nigeria a secular state, and therefore teaching of Religion should be separated from National Values in school.

Also speaking on the motion, Hon. Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma(Edo:PDP) called for the Ministry to observe section 38 (1) and (2) of the Constitution emphasizes the freedom of choices in religion.