Religious Budget Debate: Adesanya-Davies Calls for Equal Treatment of All Faiths

Bishop Professor Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies has called for greater transparency and fairness in the allocation of public funds to religiously affiliated institutions, following reports that the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) received over ₦26 billion in the 2026 Federal Budget, including about ₦18 billion earmarked for personnel costs.

In a statement titled “Where Is a Similar Budget for Christianity, African Traditional Religion, and Other Faiths in Nigeria?”, the former presidential candidate said the budgetary allocation has sparked legitimate questions about whether similar federal institutions and comparable public investments exist for Christians, adherents of African Traditional Religion (ATR), and other faith communities.

Adesanya-Davies stressed that her position was not an attack on Islam or Muslims, acknowledging the significant contributions of Islam to education, scholarship, commerce, and national development.

She also recognised that the NBAIS is a statutory educational body established by law to regulate Arabic and Islamic education and conduct examinations.

However, she argued that citizens have the constitutional right to seek clarity on how public funds are distributed, especially in a country with diverse religious beliefs.

Citing Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits the adoption of any religion as a state religion, she said government actions and budgetary decisions should reflect neutrality and fairness to all citizens.

According to her, public funds are contributed by Nigerians of all faiths, making it appropriate for citizens to ask questions about the legal basis, necessity, accountability, and expected public benefits of significant government expenditures.

The cleric also highlighted the historical contributions of Christian missions to Nigeria’s education and healthcare sectors, noting that churches continue to invest in schools, hospitals, humanitarian services, youth development, and community welfare.

She further called for greater recognition of African Traditional Religion, describing it as an integral part of Nigeria’s cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge systems.

Adesanya-Davies urged government agencies to improve transparency by clearly communicating their statutory mandates, budgetary justifications, staffing requirements, programme outcomes, and accountability mechanisms.

She also advocated broader national dialogue on ensuring equitable educational opportunities across faith traditions, strengthening oversight of publicly funded institutions, promoting interfaith understanding, and reviewing public expenditure to ensure fairness and value for money.

Calling on the National Assembly to exercise robust oversight over budget allocations, she said all government agencies should justify their appropriations in line with constitutional provisions, efficiency, and the public interest.

She concluded that addressing concerns over religious equity in public spending through openness and constitutional principles would strengthen public trust, reinforce national unity, and demonstrate the government’s commitment to equal treatment of all Nigerians regardless of religious affiliation.