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Foundation seeks non-violent approaches to conflict resolution
The Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Nigeria, has called for continuous engagement of community members to embrace dialogue and non-violent approach to resolve potential issues capable of igniting violence.
Its Country Director, Rev. Joseph Hayab, said this at the sidelines of the 2021 Peace and Development summit, organised by the Sultan Maccido Institute for Peace, Leadership and Development Studies, at the University of Abuja on Wednesday.
He noted that for Nigeria to attain sustainable peace and development, it ought to strengthen the capacity of the people in local communities to promote a culture of peace through capacity-building, workshops and sensitisation.
This, he noted, would help in building consensus and bond of friendship towards genuine reconciliation that will ensure unity in diversity, reduce tension and tribal conflicts.
“Nigeria ought to engage diverse community members to embrace dialogue and another nonviolent approach to resolving potential issues capable of igniting violence.
“We must encourage the formation of Community Peace and Reconciliation Committees as community structures at the community level,’’ he said.
According to him, insecurity challenges in Nigeria have been in existence for many decades, resulting in colossal loss of lives and properties, polarising communities, and destroying moral values.
He said the insecurity challenges ravaging the nation were multifaceted, ranging from ethnic, economic, ideological, religious, and political conflicts, depending on the context at hand.
““We” versus “Them” syndrome has been a serious challenge to this nation and could be attributed to being the root cause of most of the problems.
“It is the major driver, giving birth to the trio: banditry and kidnapping in the North-West, insurgency (Boko Haram) in the North East, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and Militant groups in the South East and South-South respectively.
“ However, most of the conflicts started as economic, social, or political, but ended up with religious connotations, to cap it all, Nigerians will not experience peace until identity-based conflicts are addressed,’’ h added.
Hayab said the youth, often, accused of being in the forefront of committing evils or perpetrating violence in society, have to be actively involved and strengthened to desist from committing mayhem in the society.
According to him, women as major stakeholders in peace building, must be encouraged and supported to play their role in inculcating discipline to their children.
He said this will help in changing the mindset of the youth who are into illicit activities and breeding a new set of a generation that result in achieving a serene environment.
The country director noted the need for political elites to involve youth in decision-making processes and give them the needed support and mentorship for addressing restiveness, militancy, and cultism in Nigeria.
He said relevant civil society organisations and academia ought to intensify efforts and have a platform to share best practices and learning towards mitigating at the community level.
Hayab added that peace building activities should be community-based for taking ownership and sustainability.
“Conflicts and mediation practitioners should adhere to the “Do No Harm” principle in their outreach for effective conflict resolution strategy,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that GPF had launched the One Family Under God Peace building campaign in Nigeria, engaging people of diverse ethno-religious backgrounds in volatile communities.
NAN
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Tax Reform Bill Passage: New Tax Laws, Better Nigeria
By Arabinrin Aderonke
Nigeria must work; this is the vision we have held onto for so long. When the news came that the Senate had passed all four tax reform bills, it was one of those moments you stop and ask yourself, is this really happening? For years, Nigeria’s tax system has been a source of frustration, something we all got used to criticizing. Truthfully, it was not just tax. From electricity to education to healthcare, we have long complained about the failure of government systems.
On top of that, Nigeria remained tied to the unstable global oil market, leaving us with unpredictable revenue and a shrinking ability to fund our future. That is exactly why we must keep believing in the idea of a new Nigeria. And this time, it is not just another round of promises, this is action.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu understood that to truly rebuild Nigeria, we needed a tax system that would create sustainable revenue, spread the burden fairly, and give every Nigerian, rich or poor, north or south, a reason to trust government again. That is what led to the introduction of the tax reform bills in 2024. It has taken months of serious policy work, consultation, and courage. Now, with the National Assembly passing all four bills, the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Nigeria Tax Administration (Procedure) Bill 2024, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill 2024, and the Joint Tax Board (Establishment) Bill 2024, we are seeing decisions that could finally loosen Nigeria’s dependence on oil and give states the resources they need to grow.
One of the features is the new VAT sharing formula. Under the proposed structure, 50 percent of Value Added Tax revenue will be shared equally among all states, 20 percent will be distributed based on population, and 30 percent will be distributed according to actual consumption. It is a formula designed to balance fairness with performance, giving each state a stake while also encouraging economic activity and good governance.
The Senate also made it known that the VAT rate will remain at 7.5 percent, resisting pressure to increase it. For Nigerians, that means no new burden added to goods and services. But more importantly, the bills approved also provided for the continued funding of development agencies such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). These are the institutions that support learning, research, and innovation across the country, and their survival is necessary for the future of the Nigeria we all want.
Another part of the bill is the plan to turn the Federal Inland Revenue Service into the Nigeria Revenue Service (Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill). But this is not just a name change. It is a coordinated effort to build a system that supports states, strengthens local government revenue, and makes tax collection more transparent.
Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of FIRS, has led the redesign of the agency and introduced many measures aimed at improving tax collection across the country, and even these Tax Reform Bills are one. If anyone has earned respect in this space, it is him. His work shows that reforms are possible when people in charge are ready to do better.
As it stands, all four tax reform bills have been passed, and these laws are now in place. This means Nigeria has completed what many consider the most needed tax reform in years.
The process now moves to the harmonization stage, where both the Senate and House of Representatives will come together to resolve any differences in their versions of the bills. Once they reach an agreement, the bills will be sent to the President for his final approval. After the President signs them into law, they will be published in the official gazette, making them official. From there, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, which will be renamed the Nigeria Revenue Service, will take the lead in implementation. With the capable Tax Boss, Dr. Zacch, we can be sure that the results will exceed expectations.
This is the Renewed Hope Nigerians have been waiting for. The changes are here, these reforms give us the chance to do things right!
Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi is the technical assistant on broadcast media to the executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service
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