The Christian Association of Nigeria has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the implementation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) until all the contentious issues in the new act are resolved.
The religious, who were responding to an invitation by the Buhari administration for input on the CAMA Act, said they were constrained from doing so because were yet to be availed the authentic copy of the voluminous Act.
The position of CAN was contained in a letter to the President Muhammadu Buhari, which was signed by its President, Rev. Olasupo Ayokunle.
The CAMA has generated controversy since it was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 7.
“We consider the Act, as indeed, a complex of statecraft compendium, laden with issues that are grossly inimical to national interest, security (- peace and stability), and overall wellbeing of the Nigerian state”, the letter said.
The umbrella body of Christians noted that such a critical legislation should have received inputs from key stakeholders in the country to make more acceptable. He however expressed surprise that such step was not adopted in the making of CAMA Act.
Ayokunle said, “From the reactions of stakeholders and a cross-section of the Nigerian-state, it is apparent that the Act either did not receive input from the respective various interest groups or failed to accommodate their views, sundry concerns and varying interests of the Nigerian people.
“Without prejudice to our observations, such a law ought to welcome and accommodate the sundry and varying interests of the Nigerian people.”
CAN said it was not considering “judicial intervention or amendment of the Act by the National Assembly” as such “shall achieve nothing much.”
It will be recalled that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is himself a pastor , had recently advised that those disagree with Act should go to the National Assembly or seek judicial intervention.
The Christians body asked Buhari to “suspend the implementation of CAMA 2020 and affirm a thorough reappraisal of the legislation that is in correlation with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.”
The CAMA Act has generated controversy since it was signed into law on August 7,2020.
Christian leaders especially have mounted strong opposition to the Act, based on the fear that government can leverage on the Act to silence critical voices from the Church.
CAN’s letter reads,
President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR
State House
Abuja
Mr. President ,
We respectfully acknowledge the invitation extended to us to make an input into the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020 following the myriad of objections that attended the enactment of the Act.
While we sincerely appreciate the courtesy of your invitation, we are however constrained from doing so on the following grounds:
1. We are yet to be availed with the authentic version of the voluminous Act, made up of 870 sections besides the sundry and complex schedules and addendum. We consider the Act, as indeed, a complex of statecraft compendium, laden with issues that are grossly inimical to national interest, security (- peace and stability), and overall wellbeing of the Nigerian-state.
2. From the reactions of stakeholders and a cross-section of the Nigerian-state, it is apparent that the Act either did not receive input from the respective various interest groups or failed to accommodate their views, sundry concerns and varying interests of the Nigerian people. Without prejudice to our observations, such a law ought to welcome and accommodate the sundry and varying interests of the Nigerian people.
3. Furthermore, we are mindful that comments in public domain are beginning to indicate that CAMA, 2020 has the potential that can further undermine the faith of stakeholders in the Nigerian-state. The reactions from public officeholders have not helped matters because they are binary in perspective and pander towards a fait accompli.
4. The dominant schools of thought in the public domain, hold the view that should stakeholders of the Nigerian-state seek judicial intervention or amendment of the Act by the National Assembly, they shall achieve nothing much, as they consider such, as exercises in futility. We must allay their fears and encourage them to exercise their democratic rights in our participatory democracy; hoping that when citizens approach these state institutions, they shall rise up to the challenge.
Mr. President, from the foregoing, we are of the opinion that you should kindly issue the appropriate directives to suspend the implementation of CAMA 2020 and affirm a thorough reappraisal of the legislation that is in correlation with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), other extant legal and policy frameworks, the national economy, national security, national interest and the wellbeing of the Nigerian-state.
In order to participate actively in such an exercise, you may wish to kindly furnish us with an official version as assented by you. This will enable us do the due diligence required, please.
Once more, do accept the assurances of our esteemed consideration as we pray for the continued presence and Will of the Almighty God of all-creation by the Holy Spirit in Nigeria through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Savior, Redeemer and soon coming KING. (Amen)
