NSCIA Beyond Moon Sighting

By Abdulfattah Abdussalam

To an average Nigerian, the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs NSCIA, is a ceremonial organisation, which only exists to announce the beginning and the end of Ramadan. Over the years, it has continued to be visible on the radar of the public, only in days preceding Ramadan and fizzled out for the rest of the year. Many may want to ask, is NSCIA only meant to do that? Of course in reality and going by the extant laws that set up the Council, there are many other roles for it to play.

The NSCIA was established in 1973 to cater for, preserve, protect, promote and advance the interests of Islam and Muslims throughout the country. It is expected to be responsible for the unity of Nigerian Muslims, because it is the umbrella body of Nigerian Muslims, recognized by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Its establishment in 1973 was orchestrated by young and dynamic Nigerians, who were chips of the fiery Muslim students’ society of Nigeria and hitherto belonged to different major Muslim groups in Nigeria.

Two key groups involved in its formation were the JamatuNasril Islam, JNI, an umbrella body for Muslim organizations in Northern Nigeria, and the Western State Joint Muslim Organisations, headed by the late Dawah Icon personality, Dr AbdulLateef Adegbite, who was the immediate past Secretary General of the organisation. He initially served as the legal Adviser, before he became the Secretary General.

A visit to the headquarters of the Nigeria Supreme Council for ISlamic Affairs, tucked in an obscured part of the National mosque in Abuja, shows a dysfunctional organisation that Muslims in Nigeria should be concerned about. It is obvious it is not an institution that is well placed to preserve, protect, promote and advance the interests of Islam and Muslims throughout the country as contained in its book.

And perhaps if not for the sterling activities of his Eminence, Alh. Muhammadu Abubakar Sa’ad, III CFR, the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and the AmirulMuimini of Nigeria, there would be nothing supreme about the Council. It mirrors who we are as a people. If the wall of the walls of the offices allotted to the council are to speak, they will talk and ask questions. Many Muslim organizations have a more befitting and structured headquarters than the NSCIA. Collectively, we have failed in this our enterprise.

Yes, it does announce and monitor the moon’s movement to guide us on our religious activities, like the commencement and the end of Ramadan, and the Hajj, but its rolesshould be more than that. Supreme Islamic Councils of other countries play functional roles that may include, formulate religious policies for governments, constitute standing committees that superintend affairs of Muslims, have empirical data of mosques and Imams, conduct routine inspection of the mosques, have administrative offices in all nooks and crannies, punish and sanction, erred Imams, certify imams before appointed for mosques, have direct chain of communication with all Islamic groups, Mosques, Schools, Islamic agencies, Sharia courts, supervise the Halal components of a country, stand and speak for the welfare of Muslims and supervise the curriculum of Islamic and Quranic schools.

If we juxtapose these expected roles, one will understand the need for NSCIA to be restructured and go beyond mere ceremonial. Today, Islam in Nigeria presents an image far removed from its true teachings. It has become a cauldron of corrupting influences and appalling practices, particularly among some Imams and religious leaders, that if NSCIAs roles have been more entrenched, such misbehaviours would not have been.It is once reported that the expanse of lands and properties of NSCIA either lay fallow, in disrepair, or were cornered by individuals for personal use.

The organisation is personalized around a few individuals; if they are not immediately available, her activities stop. In matters of external relationships, NSCIA is crawling. Her relationship with Islamic embassies in Nigeria is on a thin line, and her media presence is next to nothing. It maintains a poorly managed website that is not communicative and has a dirty environment unbecoming of her status.

Nigerian Muslims should take advantage of the pedigrees and character of the Sultan, the President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and the co-chair of Nigerian Interreligious Council, who is an amiable person, lovable by all, and firm by encouraging him to put in motion the repositioning of the NSCIA in all ramifications.

NSCIA should rise above her present operational mode. It must develop means to boost her financial position to bankroll the change. It is not out of place for Islamic organizations and institutions like Islamic finance houses to contribute funds to rebrand and restructure the Council offices and workforce across Nigeria.

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