Niger CAN hails FG on CRK, IRK…calls on state govt to implement directives

The Niger state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has hailed the federal government’s directive to make the Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) and Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK) distinctive subjects in the basic education curriculum.

Speaking to newsmen in Minna, the CAN state chairman, Revd. Mathias Echioda, on Monday called on the state government to immediately implement the federal government’s directives if they want the best

According to him “this showed that the government listens to the plights of the people. It is a welcomed development because a government that does not listen to the people will have itself truncated. A government that listens is a responsible one.

“If you lead a people and they are not attuned with what you are doing then there is a problem. The step in the first place was a wrong one, they have not been able to really convince us why the change in the first place.”

He added that “we had the CRK and IRK standing on their own before, and going on smoothly. But beyond the embarrassment of government coming up with the idea of not making each of the subjects stand alone, we are grateful that they listened to common sense and the cry of the people. To this extent we appreciate the effort they have done because it would be like a political suicide not to listen to the people who elected you into power.

He further called on the government at all level to consult relevant stakeholders before taking decisions adding that “we hope that before they do certain things, they would have wide consultations with Stakeholders, not just hand picking a couple of Civil servants or loyalists to do what they want. Let them go all round to get enough information and see the heartbeat of the stakeholders.”

Furthermore, he called on the State government to promptly respond to Federal government’s directive, for immediate implementation and engage teachers for the subjects.

“Let it go beyond political rhetoric, they should swing into action because the purpose of the change is to make things work. Application is the reason for learning. Where there is no application, learning is useless.

“So, let the state government not hide its head anywhere, they should come all out as has been made known nationally, implement to the fullest so that the children will be brought up in the fear of God and of course morally so that we will have a better country than what we presently have,” he advised.

In a swift response to the call by the Chairman of CAN, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hajiya Fatima Madugu assured government’s readiness.

“Well, based on the federal government’s pronouncement, we (the state government) will equally implement it accordingly. It will be implemented because all arrangements have been put in place for us to implement it.

“We cannot violate federal government’s directive, it will be implemented accordingly and very soonest.”