The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has called on Muslims across the country to obtain their National Identification Numbers (NINs) and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to ensure active participation in the 2027 general elections. The council emphasized that civic engagement is a fundamental responsibility to the nation, urging the Muslim community to avoid passivity in the selection of leaders at all levels of government.
This mobilization effort was part of resolutions adopted during the NSCIA General Assembly held on October 1, 2026, at the Abuja National Mosque. The gathering, themed “Nigerian Muslims and the Imperative of Nation-building,” was presided over by Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the NSCIA. The assembly brought together emirs, obas, chief imams, Islamic scholars, leaders of major Islamic organizations, and delegates from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Beyond electoral participation, the council outlined broader directives for its members. NSCIA urged Muslims to demonstrate exemplary conduct in their workplaces and to view their faith as a source of character and responsibility rather than merely an identity. Additionally, the council encouraged Muslim societies to pursue economic independence through lawful investments, cooperation, and the effective administration of Zakat and Waqf as tools for sustainable poverty reduction.
On national security, the council stated that insecurity affects Nigerians regardless of religious affiliation and rejected allegations that any specific religious community is facing genocide. NSCIA called for urgent and comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s security architecture, expressing support for a decentralized policing model anchored on professionalism, constitutional safeguards, impartiality, and sustainable funding. The council also urged the Federal Government to expedite measures to reduce the costs of transportation and food to alleviate the hardships faced by ordinary citizens.
Addressing religious rights, NSCIA called on government agencies to respect the right of Muslim female students, National Youth Service Corps members, security personnel, and other workers to wear the hijab. The council specifically criticized the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, and the University of Lagos for what it described as hostile dispositions toward Supreme Court judgments that favor the use of hijab in their international schools, urging these institutions to comply with the rulings and promote inclusiveness.
The assembly also adopted the 2026 report of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and endorsed its recommendations for repositioning the Hajj industry. In a separate honor, the council recognized NSCIA Secretary-General Prof. Is-haq Oloyede for his contributions to educational development and nation-building during his tenure as Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from August 2016 to July 2026.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
