Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has said that the legislature is committed to combating all forms of religious and racial discrimination to ensure peaceful coexistence of Nigerians.
The Speaker gave the assurance while declaring open the 2025 Interfaith Legislative Roundtable Engagement organized by the House of Representatives in Abuja on Monday.
Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Speaker Tajudeen said that the Roundtable is a continuation of a global momentum that began with the Second Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue, held in Rome in June 2025, where over 100 countries including Nigeria pledged to collaborate across faiths and parliaments to defend democratic values, protect vulnerable populations, and counter divisive rhetoric.
According to him, the dialogue stems from the communique issued at the end of the event which emphasized that peace-building must be proactive and anchored on ethics, accountability, and solidarity.
He said: “This Roundtable draws from those recommendations and seeks to localize them within the Nigerian context. It is instructive to mention also that the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations has also reinforced these efforts, warning that the rising tide of online hate speech and the normalization of dehumanizing rhetoric present existential threats to democratic societies.
“The House of Representatives is committed to combating all forms of religious and racial discrimination with equal urgency. In the light of this, the House, through this engagement, aims to identify legislative gaps, propose frameworks, and create tools that can meaningfully curb these threats while promoting civic education and peaceful coexistence.
“As outlined in our Legislative Agenda, we are focused on upholding the rule of law, fostering peace-building and dialogue, and deepening inclusion, especially for youth and marginalized communities. This engagement aligns squarely with those goals. From hate speech regulation in digital spaces to faith-based education for tolerance, we aim to evolve policies that not only protect freedom of belief but also inspire a generation of responsible citizenship.”
Beyond the core significance of the Roundtable, Speaker Tajudeen also said it is essential that the stakeholders begin to explore how faith-based education can serve as a frontline tool against extremism and divisive ideologies.
He added that misinformation, indoctrination and poor civic understanding escalate religious conflicts.
Proferring solutions however, Speaker Tajudeen emphasized the need to enhance the digital literacy of faith influencer and clerics, stressing that the House remained committed to defending the Constitution.
“Many of the vulnerabilities that breed religious conflict are rooted in misinformation, indoctrination, and poor civic understanding. By supporting reforms that integrate constitutional literacy, critical thinking, and peace studies into religious curricula across madrasas, seminaries, and faith-based schools, we can build a generation that is both spiritually grounded and civically informed.
“Similarly, there is a need to enhance digital literacy among faith influencers and clerics, who now command significant followings online. Empowering them with responsible digital communication skills, content moderation ethics, and conflict-sensitive engagement strategies will help de-escalate online tensions and prevent the manipulation of religious sentiment on social media.
“No citizen should be discriminated against politically, economically or socially on the basis of his faith or persuasion. As a responsible House, we remain firmly committed to defending the Constitution and ensuring, through appropriate legislative actions and oversight, that this constitutional provision is enforced at all levels of governance”, the Speaker said.