Govt Has No Business Funding Marriages, Pilgrimages, Says Dino Melaye

Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has criticised government spending on religious activities, saying public funds should not finance marriages or pilgrimages.

Melaye made the remarks during an appearance on the KAA Truths podcast.

He argued that religious practice remains a personal matter and should not become a responsibility of the government.

According to him, federal and state governments should channel public resources towards critical areas such as roads, hospitals and other development needs.

“Government has no business sponsoring religious activities including marriages. It’s so wrong that government now starts funding religious activities,” Melaye said.

He questioned why government should bear the cost of religious pilgrimages when churches, mosques, wealthy individuals and other private donors could provide such support.

“What is the function of the churches? What is the function of the billionaires who have made money and can sponsor people on religious pilgrimage?” he asked.

Melaye also questioned the justification for using public funds to sponsor pilgrimages to religious sites outside Nigeria.

He noted that neither the Bible nor the Quran makes pilgrimage to places such as Israel or Mecca a condition for attaining salvation.

“And there is no chapter in the Quran or the Bible that says if you don’t go to Mecca or Israel for pilgrimage, you will not make heaven,” he said.

The former senator said government spending should reflect the pressing needs of citizens rather than religious activities.

He pointed to the condition of roads and healthcare facilities across the country as areas requiring greater attention from government.

“Then why will government be spending billions of naira that is supposed to be meant for development? You know the state of our roads and hospitals in this country,” he said.

Melaye further questioned the continued allocation of large sums to religious pilgrimages, arguing that such expenditure does not fall within the core responsibilities of government.

“We cannot prioritize our spending. What is the business of government with religion? That we are spending hundreds of billions annually to send people to Mecca and Jerusalem?” he asked.

His comments come amid continuing public debate over government funding of religious activities and the competing demands on public resources.