RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT POLICY FORMULATIONS: A STUDY OF THE RESPONSES OF MUSLIMS TO THE CORONER LAW SYSTEM IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54561/prj0702399l

Keywords:

secularization, government policies, law, politics, religious beliefs

Abstract

This paper appraises the relationship between religious beliefs and politics within the context of government policy formulation and law in a society (Nigeria). This is to gauge the response of religious adherents to government policies and laws that claimed to be secular but in reality touches on religious beliefs of a segments of the society.  This has created a paradox that needs critical evaluation to determine if government policies and laws are devoid of religious influence. There is also the need to strike a balance between making laws and formulating policies in a secularized society where citizens have often lend a voice(within organized religions) to influence and force changes in such laws and policies. Data for analysis were gathered using random sampling method based on the religious affiliation and belief, education, gender and awareness(of the existence of CLS) of respondents in the five divisions of the state-Lagos. The analysis of the data shows that religion has the capacity to occasion changes of government laws and policies even in a pluralistic society like Nigeria as the coroner law system that was introduced by Lagos state government (one of the federating states in Nigeria) in 2007 and later withdrawn a year later due to hues and cries of Muslims in the state has shown. This form is the basis of analysis in this paper. The paper adopts a sociological and historical method for analysis.

References

Abogunrin, S.O, Towards a Unifying Political Ideology and Peaceful Co-existence in Nigeria: A Christian View, in: Onaiyekan, John (ed.), Religion, Peace and Unity in Nigeria, Ibadan: NACS, 1984.

Abubakar, R.D, Islam, Wostrum for Religious Tolerance in Polity of a Multi-Religious State: The Nigerian Experience, in: Onaiyekan, John (ed.), Religion, Peace and Unity in Nigeria, Ibadan: NASC, 1984.

Alfold, B., Religion and Politics, in: Roland Roberts (ed), Sociology of Religion, Canada: Penguin, 1981.

Awolalu J.O and P.A Dopamu, West African Traditional Religion, Revised Edition, Lagos: Macmillan, 2005.

Balogun, J.K., Religion and Politics in Nigeria: What Future, in: Aderibigbe, I.S. and Ayegboyin, D., Religion and Politics in Nigeria, Lagos, Nigerian Association for the Study of Religion and Education-NASRED, 1995.

Dukor, Maduabuchi, Philosophy and Politics: Discourse on Values and Power in Africa, Lagos: Obaroh and Ogbiriaka Publishers, 1998.

Ellis S. and Ter Haar G., Worlds of Power: Religious Thoughts and Political Practice in Africa, Hurst and Company, 2004.

Geyer Robert & Rihani, S., Complexity and Public Policy: A New Approach to 21st Century Politics, Policy and Society, Oxford: Routledge, 2010.

Idowu, Bolaji, Olodumare: God in Yoruba Belief, Lagos: Longman 1996, New Edition.

Igboin, Benson Ohihon, Fundamentalism, Security Crisis and Tolerance in Global Context: The Nigerian Experience, Politics and Religion Journal, No.1 Vol.6, 2012.

Jevtic, Miroljub, Political Science and Religion, Politics and Religion Journal No.1, Vol. 1, 2007.

Kevin, J.C; et.al., Sociology of Religion, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield, 2008.

Kukah, Matthew, Religion and Civil Society, in: Dukor, M., Philosophy and Politics: Discourse on Values and Power in Africa, Lagos: Obiorah and Ogbiriaka Publishers, 1998.

Marcus, Smith and Peter Marden, Politics, Policy and Faith: The Christian Right in Australia, Politics and Religion Journal, No.2, Vol.6. 2012, Belgrade.

Ogunremi, Deji and Adediran, B., Culture and Society in Yorubaland, Ibadan: Rex Charles, 1996.

Oguntola-Laguda, D., Religion and Politics in a Pluralistic Society: The Nigerian Experience, Politics and Religion Journal, No.2, Vol.2, 2008, Belgrade.

Ozzana, Luca, Religious Fundamentalism and Democracy, Politics and Religion Journal, No. 2 Vol.1, 2009.

The Lagos State Coroners’ Law System, 2007, Lagos: LSPC.

Downloads

Published

2022-12-13

How to Cite

Laguda, D. O. (2022). RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT POLICY FORMULATIONS: A STUDY OF THE RESPONSES OF MUSLIMS TO THE CORONER LAW SYSTEM IN LAGOS, NIGERIA. Politics and Religion Journal, 7(2), 399–412. https://doi.org/10.54561/prj0702399l