Former Kogi West senator Dino Melaye says governments should not fund religious activities, including marriages and pilgrimages. Speaking on the KAA Truths podcast, he argues that religious support is a personal matter and should not involve public money. He also questions the rationale for state sponsorship, asking what roles churches and private individuals play if government pays for believers’ religious events.
Melaye criticizes both state and federal spending priorities, saying billions of naira allocated to religious programs come at the expense of critical infrastructure and services such as roads and hospitals. He highlights ongoing national expenditure on trips to religious sites including Mecca and Jerusalem while essential sectors remain underfunded. The outlets report his position that religious funding is a misplacement of national resources, contrasting government involvement in faith-related activities with investment in development needs.
Overall, both articles present the same core claim: Melaye calls for an end to government-sponsored religious sponsorship, particularly marriages, and frames the issue as one of budget accountability and prioritization.
