Akume Seeks Stronger Government-Church Partnership for National Development, as Idris Warns Against Politicising Religion

Oru Leonard 

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has called for a stronger partnership between the Federal Government and the Church in tackling Nigeria’s security, economic and developmental challenges.
Akume made the call while representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the grand finale of the 2026 Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and the International Communion of Charismatic Archbishops, Bishops and Apostles (ICCABA), held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

The SGF commended the Church for its prayers, humanitarian interventions and contributions to peace, national cohesion and moral development, stressing that the Church remained an important partner in the task of nation-building.

He acknowledged the sacrifices Nigerians had made in the course of the ongoing economic reforms, assuring citizens that the Federal Government remained committed to improving household incomes, reducing hardship and ensuring that the benefits of the reforms were increasingly felt across the country.
“We commend our citizens for their patriotism and resilience, and assure them that it will never be in vain, as promised by Mr. President himself,” he said.

Akume said the government recognised the important role religious institutions play in shaping society, particularly through moral instruction, community development, education, humanitarian intervention and youth engagement.

He therefore called for deeper cooperation between government and the Church in addressing the country’s security and development challenges, particularly in youth empowerment, education, peacebuilding, civic responsibility and humanitarian services.
“Government needs the moral reach of the Church, and the Church needs an enabling civic environment to thrive. Above all, Nigeria needs us to work together for the common good,” Akume said.

He assured the gathering that government welcomed the Church’s prayers, counsel, constructive criticism and partnership in advancing national development.

Akume also commended the Church for its continued contribution to national cohesion, noting that religious leaders had a significant influence in their communities and could help promote peace, tolerance and responsible citizenship.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in his keynote address, urged religious leaders to use their influence to protect Nigeria’s unity and prevent political differences from turning into religious or ethnic hostility.

Idris reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting religious freedom and ensuring that differences in faith, ethnicity, language and political interests did not undermine national unity.

He stressed that no Nigerian should be attacked or discriminated against because of religion, maintaining that Christians, Muslims and adherents of other faiths must be able to worship and live peacefully across the country.

The Minister also cautioned against describing Nigeria’s security challenges as a religious war, noting that terrorist and criminal groups have attacked Nigerians from different faiths and backgrounds.

He said the government had continued to strengthen intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation, military operations and international partnerships as part of efforts to tackle terrorism and other criminal activities.

According to him, security forces had maintained pressure on terrorist and criminal networks across the North-East, North-West and North-Central.
He disclosed that about 1,000 terrorist elements, including dozens of leaders, were reportedly eliminated in the North-East during the first quarter of 2026.
Idris also disclosed that security agencies rescued 308 abducted Nigerians in Niger and Kwara States in August through a coordinated intelligence-led operation involving the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police.

He urged religious leaders to complement the efforts of security agencies by strengthening social cohesion and guiding young people away from radicalisation, criminality and other destructive activities.

The President General of CBCN, Archbishop Prof. Leonard Bature Kawas, declared the Church’s support for President Tinubu’s bid for the 2027 presidential election.

Kawas said the decision was based on the administration’s policies and its efforts towards national development and inclusivity.
“We support him now. We support him today, we support him tomorrow, and we support him for as long as he’s willing to be our president,” he said.

He further declared: “This house has endorsed him for 2027 presidency.”

The endorsement came as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum, with religious and political leaders increasingly addressing issues surrounding national unity, development and democratic participation.

The event brought together Church leaders and stakeholders from across the country, with the CBCN and ICCABA commended for providing a platform for religious leaders to deliberate on issues affecting Nigeria and reaffirm their commitment to peace, unity and national development.