The Katsina State government has dismissed a report claiming that the state has approved monthly stipends for Christian clerics in a bid to promote peace.
The report, which cited a release purportedly signed by the secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Katsina State chapter, Dr Musa Daniel Danladi, alleged that Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s administration had introduced the stipends policy.
In a statement issued by the commissioner for Information and Culture, Dr Bala Salisu Zango, the government described the claim as “a misrepresentation of reality and fake news without basis.
“There has never been any official statement from the Katsina State government about paying stipends to Christian clerics. The state government has not issued any policy, directive or statement to this effect.”
The government noted that the misinformation appeared politically motivated and intended to create tension between the state and Christian faithful, urging the public to be cautious of unverified reports, particularly from non-reputable media platforms, and to rely only on official government communication channels such as the Governor’s Office and the Ministry of Information.
Dr Zango stressed that spreading fake news undermines trust, inflames communities, and risks inciting conflict, appealing to journalists and social media users to verify information before publication, warning against content designed to provoke sectarian divisions.
Quoting Governor Dikko Radda, the release reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the rights of all religious groups and promoting peaceful coexistence.
“Our communities thrive when we choose peace, fact-based reporting, and cooperation rather than rumour-mongering. We are resolute in implementing policies that promote respect, religious tolerance, and social cohesion among all faith communities”, the governor said.
The government called on all religious faithful in Katsina to continue to live in peace and harmony, stressing that unity remains vital for the state’s development.
