The General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN Joseph Daramola says military women should be allowed to wear hijab if it will protect them form bullets
He said this on Thursday, while responding to a bill in the House of Representatives that would force military organizations to allow female officers to wear hijab.
Saidu Abdullahi, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Member of the Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency, sponsored the Religious Discrimination (Prohibition, Prevention) Bill, 2020, which has passed second reading in the House.
The military is prohibited from discriminating against someone wearing a hijab under Article 13 of the bill, titled “Discrimination in Jobs in Defense and Other Sectors.”
Daramola making reference to military women in Afghanistan who wear hijab, said the issue of hijab should be downplayed as there were more important issues bothering on governance, stability, and economic development.
“If they like they can wear skirt or agbada (flowing gown). If you go to Afghanistan, their military women wear hijab. That is not an issue. If hijab will help them deflect bullets at the battlefield, let them wear it, if that is what they want. Let us not worry ourselves about unnecessary matters,” Daramola said.
Can had previously urged the National Assembly to put the bill on hold, asking, “To what extent does this controversial bill seek to promote peace, order, and good governance? Has the dress code become part of the Exclusive Legislative List? This is totally unacceptable in a country with multiple religions.”