Jigawa State Governor, Mallam Umar Namadi, has officially signed into law the Hisbah Board Bill, establishing the Islamic moral enforcement agency as a statutory body with the authority to operate across the entire state.
The landmark legislation, passed by the Jigawa State House of Assembly just days earlier, gives legal backing to the operations of the Hisbah Board, which is tasked with promoting moral discipline, social order, and the enforcement of Sharia principles in public life.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at Government House in Dutse, Governor Namadi hailed the lawmakers for their swift passage of the bill, describing it as a “bold step in strengthening the moral and spiritual fabric of our society.”
“This law is not just symbolic,” the governor said. “It institutionalizes the Hisbah Board, giving it the legal teeth to function effectively across our 27 local government areas. I urge the leadership and operatives of the board to discharge their responsibilities with utmost fairness, restraint, and integrity.”
The newly signed law outlines the functions of the Hisbah Board, including mediation in family disputes, combating public indecency, promoting Islamic values, and collaborating with law enforcement on non-criminal matters of public conduct.
The bill’s passage marks a significant shift in the state's approach to moral governance, moving Hisbah from an informal outfit to a legally recognized and publicly accountable agency.
Civil society groups and religious leaders have reacted with mixed responses. While Islamic scholars in the state have commended the move as timely and necessary, rights advocates have urged caution, warning that the board must operate within the bounds of Nigeria’s constitutional framework and respect the rights of all citizens.
Jigawa now joins states like Kano and Zamfara in institutionalizing Hisbah under state law, reinforcing a trend in Northern Nigeria of integrating religious moral codes into formal governance structures.