CAN Alleges Religious Bias in Katsina Scholarship, Pilgrimage Policies, Seeks Government Review

The Katsina State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has raised concerns over what it describes as religious discrimination in the state’s Medicine and Nursing Scholarship Scheme and pilgrimage sponsorship policies, calling on the government to review the measures in the interest of fairness and inclusiveness.

In an open letter addressed to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, the association alleged that certain government policies have sidelined Christian indigenes of the state. The letter, signed by Dr D.D. Musa on behalf of the state chairman, Very Rev. Fr. Richard Shuaibu Liti, was made available to journalists on Sunday.

CAN specifically questioned the eligibility requirements for the recently announced state-sponsored medicine and nursing scholarship programme. According to the association, applicants are required to be Muslims who have memorised or recited the Holy Qur’an, in addition to meeting the prescribed academic qualifications.

While commending the government’s efforts to invest in healthcare education, CAN argued that limiting access to the scholarship on religious grounds excludes qualified Christian students and undermines the principles of equal opportunity.

The association maintained that several Christian students with outstanding academic records and aspirations to study medicine and nursing have been denied access to a programme funded with public resources.

Citing Section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on religion, CAN urged the state government to ensure that all eligible citizens enjoy equal access to government-sponsored educational opportunities.

Beyond the scholarship programme, the association also expressed concern over the alleged discontinuation of government sponsorship for Christian pilgrims, while support for Muslim pilgrims reportedly remains in place.

According to CAN, the development has deepened feelings of exclusion among members of the Christian community. It noted that in many parts of the country, pilgrimage sponsorship has traditionally been extended to adherents of both major faiths as a demonstration of fairness, inclusiveness and respect for religious diversity.

The association appealed to Governor Radda to review the scholarship guidelines and make the programme accessible to all qualified Katsina indigenes, irrespective of religious affiliation. It recommended that selection be based solely on merit, academic performance and financial need.

CAN also called for a more balanced approach to pilgrimage sponsorship, urging the government to either reinstate support for Christian pilgrims alongside their Muslim counterparts or provide alternative benefits of equivalent value to members of both faith communities.

The association stressed that Katsina State has long enjoyed a reputation for peaceful coexistence among people of different religious backgrounds and warned that policies perceived as discriminatory could undermine public trust and social harmony.

It added that addressing the concerns would help strengthen unity and allow the government to concentrate on critical development challenges such as security, education and healthcare.

Describing the letter as part of a constructive engagement process, CAN said it remains open to dialogue with the state government in pursuit of solutions that promote equity and mutual understanding.

As of the time of filing this report, the Katsina State Government had not publicly responded to the allegations. Efforts to obtain comments from the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Hon. Bala Salisu Zango, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Kaula, were unsuccessful.