Following the new marriage certificate law introduced by the Ministry of Interior, the Pentecoastal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has faulted the new development, saying that the federal government is simply targeting the churches.
This position was made in a statement issued by the National President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev. (Dr.) Felix Omobude.
The National President faulted the decision of the Ministry of Interior over the imposition of a compulsory N30,000 charge licence for Christian worship centres for the conduct of statutory marriages in churches and N21,000 for each marriage certificate.
He alleged that it is an attempt to commercialize Christian marriages in the country.
Omobude called on the Federal Government to shelve the unpopular policy which he said is exploitative and targeted against Christian marriages in the country. He added that they will use every legal means to stop the new marriage certificate law.
He said;
“This is very unfair and to the best of our understanding, the new law is targeted against the Church because the Traditional and Islamic weddings are exempted from paying the new marriage certificate fees.
“PFN is at a loss as to why Church Marriages should be in the exclusive list of the nation’s constitution. The PFN, therefore calls on the Federal Government to immediately shelve the unpopular policy targeted against Christian marriages in the country.
“If the Ministry of Interior is in dire need of funds, it should look elsewhere and resist the temptation of placing extra financial burden on the Christians and their churches.”
