The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the implementation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA). 

The suspension request was contained in a Tuesday statement signed by the office of CAN's President, Rev. Olasupo Ayokunle and made available to newsmen. 

The Association said it "considers the ACT as a complex of stagecraft compendium, laden with issues that are grossly inimical to National interest, security and wellbeing of the Nigerian-state." 

The Act has generated controversies since it was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 7. 

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Earlier this month, Christian leaders slammed the President for introducing the CAMA which empowers a federal Ministry and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to regulate the affairs of churches. 

Read full statement 

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.

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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)

Meanwhile, the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adegboye, on Monday visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the state House in Abuja. 

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However, the RCCG Overseer denied press interview after meeting with the President. 

Many believed that the CAMA subject could be part of Adegboye and Buhari’s discuss during the visit. 

While responding to the plight of Churches on the Act, the senior Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Ita Enang,   on Tuesday assured religious bodies that the CAMA  does not target churches, mosques and other religious bodies. 

He gave the assurance during a meeting with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abuja. 

The meeting was organized to enlighten the Christian body on the how the act works. 

Enang expressed displeasure that some opposition parties have  wrongly characterized the purpose of the act by giving negative information about it. 

He said the misconceptions that had trailed the Act had found their way in through deliberate misinformation, explaining also that some had intended to blackmail President Muhmmadu Buhari with it.

“Misconceptions have enveloped this Act with deliberate misinformation and falsehood by persons who may not have fully and in-fact personally read and digested the provision of the Act.

”We consider it appropriate and responsible to appear before you and other fora to make these explanations.

“First, the bill as it then was, was not an executive bill transmitted by President Buhari to the legislature.

“It was initiated by a senator and member of the House in the respective chambers, at the behest of the Corporate Affairs Commission and support of the Ministry of Trade and Investment.

”It was therefore not an executive bill, but upon passage was transmitted to Mr President for assent.

”Secondly, upon receipt of the same for assent, Mr President in accordance with extant best practice escalated the measure to appropriate Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

“They made different inputs some of which led to Mr President declining assent twice to the bill in the entire tenure or life of the 8th Assembly.

”Thirdly, as the 9th Assembly inaugurated, the bill was again re-introduced by senators and honourable members and all the observations made on the 8th Assembly bill incorporated and addressed.

”Without any amendment or insertion and in whole passed by the two chambers and being without differences was transmitted to Mr President for assent.

“It is pertinent to state that prior to this Act, Incorporated Trustees or Law of Trust was regulated by the COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTER ACT, 1990, now repealed by the 2020 CAMA.

”This shows that trusteeship as now complained of was regulated by an Act which has been in existence for 30 years.

“We want to declare as a fact, that the Act does not target churches or religious bodies as wrongly assumed.

”For illustration of this I present a tabular form of the provisions of the 1990 Act which came into force on January 2, 1990, which after more than 30 years of operation has now been repealed and replaced by CAMA 2020 hereunder are the comparative provisions in the two enactments.

”The 2020 Act assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari has not introduced any matter oppressive to the Christian Community or any religion nor any matter discriminatory against any class of persons in Nigeria,” he said.