Section 37 & 38 of the 1999 Constitution: Right to Privacy, Freedom of Thought, Conscience & Religion

Privacy

The 1999 Constitution

Section 37

The privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraphic communications is hereby guaranteed and protected.

(Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to their privacy. Be it in their homes, communications with people by way of letters, telephone or telegraph is protected and guaranteed by the Constitution)


Section 38 (1)

Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

(Every person is entitled to their free thought, conscience and religion. This includes freedom to change his/her religion or belief and freedom to (either alone or as a community with others and in public or private) manifest and spread his/her religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.)


Section 38 (2)

No person attending any place of education shall be required to receive religious instruction or to take part in or attend any religious ceremony or observance if such instruction ceremony or observance relates to a religion other than his own, or religion not approved by his parent or guardian.

(A person who attends a school shall not be made to receive or partake in or attend any religious ceremony or observance which does not relate to his/ her religion or was not approved by his/ her guardian)


Section 38 (3)

No religious community or denomination shall be prevented from providing religious instruction for pupils of that community or denomination in any place of education maintained wholly by that community or denomination.

(A religious community or denomination will not be stopped from giving religious instruction to pupils of that community or denomination in any school solely maintained by that communication or denomination.)


Section 38 (4)

Nothing in this section shall entitle any person to form, take part in the activity or be a member of a secret society.

(This section does not entitle any person to form or participate or be a member of a secret society.)

Section 19 and 20 of the 1999 Constitution

4 comments on “Section 37 & 38 of the 1999 Constitution: Right to Privacy, Freedom of Thought, Conscience & Religion”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *