KATSINA STATE GOVERNOR HAS DONE THE UNIMAGINABLE,. THIS IS THE FIRST OF IT KIND.
Katsina State Introduces CRS in Public Schools and Monthly Pastor Stipends to Promote Peaceful Coexistence
Katsina State, August 2025 – In a move that places education and interfaith harmony at the forefront, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has approved two major initiatives: the official introduction of Christian Religious Studies (CRS) into the curriculum of public schools and the disbursement of monthly stipends to pastors across the state.
1. Christian Religious Studies in Public Schools
The landmark decision to integrate CRS into public schools marks a significant broadening of the educational curriculum in predominantly Islamic Katsina State. This measure aims to foster religious inclusivity and provide Christian students with the opportunity to formally study their faith in public education institutions .
2. Monthly Stipends for Pastors
In tandem with the CRS initiative, Governor Radda has sanctioned monthly stipends for pastors throughout
the state. This support is explicitly intended to encourage and appreciate their ongoing prayers and efforts toward fostering peace, unity, and progress within their communities .
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Katsina has publicly commended these decisions. CAN emphasized that both steps are meaningful and urged the administration to sustain them beyond the current tenure, highlighting their importance in maintaining social cohesion .
3. Broader Budgetary Context
These moves are part of a broader state investment in the education sector. For the 2025 fiscal year, Katsina State earmarked ₦95.9 billion for education—representing about 14% of the total budget—underscoring its commitment to educational development across levels .
4. Lessons in Leadership: A Framework for Religious Harmony
Katsina's decisions offer a powerful blueprint for other states—such as neighboring Kaduna—and political figures considering a return to governance. By embracing religious inclusivity and supporting faith leaders, government can bolster social peace and communal resilience. The impartial yet affirming approach fosters a sense of belonging across religious lines—an indispensable asset in Nigeria’s multi-faith landscape.
5. Final Thoughts: A Call for Inclusive Governance
Governor Radda’s dual measures—CRS inclusion in schools and support for pastors—signal more than policy shifts; they embody a deeper philosophy of unity through education and prayer. In a region often characterized by religious sensitivity, this approach offers an exemplary path forward.
As such, while critics may cast aspersions on political figures with past histories, it's clearer now than ever: substantive leadership, grounded in inclusivity and support for all faiths, paves the way for true progress. Governors, former office holders—or future aspirants—should take note of Katsina’s example.
Summary Points:
- CRS added to public school curriculum to ensure inclusivity for Christian students.
- Monthly stipends to pastors are meant to reinforce their spiritual role in fostering peace.
- Initiatives received praise from the Christian Association of Nigeria in Katsina.
- The state’s ₦95.9 billion education funding in 2025 underscores the broader commitment to learning and development.
- Katsina presents a model of inclusive governance, demonstrating how interfaith harmony can be cultivated through policy.
