Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to ending all forms of religious and racial discrimination in Nigeria, stressing that no citizen should face marginalisation based on faith or geographical origin.

Represented by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu at the Interfaith Legislative Roundtable Engagement held Monday in Abuja, Abbas reaffirmed the legislature’s resolve to uphold constitutional guarantees of equality, religious freedom, and social justice.

“The parliament remains committed to defending the Constitution and ensuring its provisions guaranteeing equality and religious freedom are enforced at all levels,” Abbas said.

The roundtable drew inspiration from international resolutions, particularly the Second Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue recently held in Rome, where over 100 countries including Nigeria pledged to combat divisive rhetoric and protect vulnerable groups.

Abbas echoed concerns by the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations over the global rise in online hate speech and dehumanising rhetoric, describing them as serious threats to Nigeria’s democratic cohesion.

He outlined the House’s intent to:

·         Identify legislative gaps

·         Propose frameworks to counter religious discrimination

·         Promote peaceful coexistence, civic education, and digital literacy

“From hate speech regulation in digital spaces to faith-based education for tolerance, we aim to evolve policies that protect freedom of belief and inspire responsible citizenship,” Abbas said.

To tackle the root causes of religious conflict, including misinformation, indoctrination, and poor civic education, Abbas proposed:

·         Integrating constitutional literacy, peace studies, and critical thinking into faith-based curricula in seminaries and madrasas

·         Enhancing digital literacy for religious leaders and influencers, equipping them with content moderation ethics and conflict-sensitive communication strategies

“Faith influencers command significant followings online. Equipping them with tools for responsible digital communication will help de-escalate tensions and prevent manipulation of religious sentiment on social media,” he added.

The Speaker concluded by assuring that the House of Representatives would continue leveraging its legislative and oversight powers to ensure that justice, equality, and peaceful coexistence remain the cornerstone of national development.