back to top

CAMA is not targeted against churches – Presidency

THE presidency has said on Tuesday that contrary to what has been widely circulated in the media, the purpose of the new Companies Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA) is not to ambush churches or any religious body in the country.

Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs said this during a meeting with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Tuesday in Abuja.

He lamented that the Act which was recently signed by the president has been misunderstood and viewed as anti-religious law because of deliberate misinformation by mischief makers whose sole intention is to blackmail President Muhammadu Buhari.

“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.

“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 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 observation made on the 8th Assembly bill incorporated and addressed.

Read Also:

“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to this Act, Incorporated Trustees or Law of Trust was regulated by the COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTER ACT, 1990, now repealed by the 2020 CAMA.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 Jan. 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.

    In his reaction, Samson Ayokunle, CAN President has urged that the implementation of the law be suspended pending all issues around it are resolved.

    You can reach out to me on Twitter via: vincent_ufuoma

    Join the ICIR WhatsApp channel for in-depth reports on the economy, politics and governance, and investigative reports.

    Support the ICIR

    We invite you to support us to continue the work we do.

    Your support will strengthen journalism in Nigeria and help sustain our democracy.

    If you or someone you know has a lead, tip or personal experience about this report, our WhatsApp line is open and confidential for a conversation

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here


    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Support the ICIR

    We need your support to produce excellent journalism at all times.

    -Advertisement-

    Recent

    - Advertisement