In Nigeria, the process of registering a religious organization, whether it’s a church or a mosque, involves navigating through legal procedures set by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). This guide aims to simplify the steps for a seamless registration experience. It is recommended that you follow the proper procedure so that you do not have any problems with the government in the future.
Understanding the Importance of Registration:
Before delving into the procedural details, it’s crucial to recognize the significance of registering your church or mosque. Registration with CAC not only provides legal recognition but also brings numerous advantages, including the ability to open a bank account, own property, and enjoy tax exemptions.
STEPS TO REGISTER A CHURCH OR MOSQUE IN NIGERIA WITH CAC
The following is a step-by-step guide to registering a church or mosque with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Step 1: Name Reservation
The first step in the registration process is to reserve a unique name for your church or mosque. Ensure that the chosen name complies with CAC’s naming guidelines. Like any other business in Nigeria, choosing the right name for your religious entity is very important to the entity’s focus. To begin, conduct a name search for your church or mosque to ensure that your preferred name has not already been used by someone else. It is after this that you can go ahead to reserve your name. The reservation can be done online through the CAC portal.
Step 2: Create a Board of Trustees
Secondly, you are expected to form a Board of Trustees to act as directors. The equivalent of company shareholders/directors is the Board of Trustees. They are always in charge of the administrative affairs of the church or mosque. You must use Incorporated Trustees because churches and mosques are non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Having a Board of Trustees is an important requirement for CAC to open a church or mosque in Nigeria.
Step 3: Publish the Approved Name
Immediately after the selected name has been approved by CAC, you will want to move on to the next step, which is to publish the approved name of the church or mosque in three newspapers across the country, one of which must be in the area or close to the church or mosque.
The church or mosque board of trustees must ensure that it is published in Punch, Nigerian Tribune, and one other newspaper company in the area where the church or mosque is located. For example, if the church/mosque is in Ketu, the trustees will look for a newspaper in Ketu or any other nearby area on Lagos’s mainland.
Step 4: Submit Required Documents for Registration
Aside from the requirements mentioned in the previous steps, you must ensure that the application is correctly filled out. You should also keep in mind that the Aims and Objectives of the church or mosque will be asked, so you should have that ready. Every member of the Board of Trustees will have a space to fill out their personal information as well. In addition, the application form submission must be accompanied by the following documents:
- Two passport-sized photographs of each Trustee
- 2 formal letters of application signed by the secretary and the chairman of the board, minutes of the church meeting signed by the secretary and the chairman of the board
- Two copies of the church’s or mosque’s constitution, as well as an original newspaper publication with your approved name.
- The minutes of the meeting at which the trustees were elected.
All these processes are to be carried out online. It is important to note that they’re carefully prepared and submitted to avoid disapproval from CAC. You may want to consult a CAC Agent to do this for you.
Step 5: Payment
It should be noted that this registration does not come freely. Churches/mosques are expected to make the necessary registration payment through the portal.
Step 6: Submission and Approval
Finally, the Corporate Affairs Commission will review all of the submitted documents, and once everything is in order, you will be approved.
SOME OTHER BENEFITS OF REGISTERING A CHURCH OR MOSQUE
1. The church or mosque becomes a legal entity and a corporate body. That is, it now can sue as well as be sued.
2. It has a never-ending succession. Because it is now an incorporated trustee, it will continue to exist even if its major financiers and board of trustees die. If one of the religious body’s principal officers dies, the religious body will immediately appoint new members to replace the deceased.
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of registering your church/ministry or mosque yourself, we at Edubeta are your best go-to CAC Agent. Contact us today.