SCSN Clarifies Sharia Panel Agenda in Oyo State

• The Supreme Council of Shariah in Nigeria has clarified that the postponed Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel in Oyo is not a court but a voluntary platform for resolving family disputes among Muslims. A new inauguration date will be announced soon.

By Abdullahi Yusuf

The Supreme Council of Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has announced plans to reschedule the inauguration of an Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel in Oyo State after its initial date of January 11, 2025, was postponed due to public backlash.

The suspension followed a wave of concern from Southwest youths, who misinterpreted the event as the establishment of a Sharia court in Oyo Town and its environs. Critics argued that such a move could undermine the secular nature of the region and pointed out perceived shortcomings of Sharia law in northern Nigeria.

Rabiu Bello Adisa, Chairman of the Organising Committee, clarified the misunderstanding, emphasizing that the Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel is not a court. Instead, it serves as a voluntary platform for Muslim families to resolve disputes amicably, without enforcement powers.

“We regret the inconvenience caused by the misinformation and the subsequent postponement,” Adisa said, explaining that similar panels already operate in other parts of the Southwest without controversy.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) also addressed the situation, urging the Oyo State Government to clarify the claims surrounding the panel. Apostle Commodore Abiola Ayuba, CAN’s Director of National Issues and Social Welfare, reaffirmed that Nigeria’s Constitution upholds the country’s secularity and guarantees freedom of worship.

The incident has reignited debates about the role of Sharia law in Nigeria’s secular framework and the need for transparent communication in sensitive matters.

Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has announced that his administration will begin implementing an N80,000 minimum wage for workers starting January 2025. This decision, reached in collaboration with organised labour leaders, aims to improve workers’ welfare in the state.

Dotun Oyelade, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, confirmed that the payment structure for the new minimum wage will be backdated to July 1, 2024.

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