On Sunday, March 1, 2026, the National Assembly (NASS) Christian Chapel built by Christian Legislators Fellowship in Abuja was officially dedicated and commissioned. This landmark event was the culmination of a nearly 20-year journey, providing a permanent place of worship for Christian legislators and staff within the parliamentary complex. The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu performed the commissioning.
The Chief Host, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Host Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, and former Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, graced the dedication and inauguration ceremony. Some religious leaders in attendance were Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (who delivered the sermon), CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh, and PFN President Bishop Francis Wale Oke.
The 750-capacity non-denominational edifice, situated within the National Assembly complex, stands as a permanent sanctuary for Christian legislators, staff, and the parliamentary community. Before its completion, the Christian Legislators Fellowship had conducted services in borrowed committee rooms and temporary spaces for nearly two decades.
In her keynote address, the First Lady described the chapel as a “spiritual reminder” that while lawmakers are elected by the people, they remain ultimately accountable to the “Supreme Lawmaker.”
“This occasion is deeply significant for me as a former legislator who participated in weekly fellowships in committee rooms for twelve years,” Senator Tinubu remarked. “May this chapel inspire humility in leadership, courage in decision-making, and compassion in service to our nation.”
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, echoed these sentiments, describing the chapel as a “covenant between the legislature and heaven.” He noted that the project’s completion under the 10th Assembly demonstrates a commitment to ensuring that faith and public service work in harmony to sustain Nigeria’s stability and progress.
In his sermon, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, urged legislators to use the sacred space to “reconsecrate themselves to the service of humanity,” reminding them that laws must be rooted in justice for both the rich and the poor.
The event was attended by a high-powered delegation of Nigerian elder statesmen and religious leaders, including former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, who urged the assembly to prioritize national unity and love across religious lines.
The National Assembly Christian Chapel will now serve as a central hub for intercessory prayers, counseling, and spiritual reflection, aimed at fostering ethical governance and national healing.
