Feature/OPED
The Intersection of Religion and Human Rights: Balancing Freedom of Religion and Societal Interest in Nigeria
By Prince Charles Dickson PhD
Last week, I had the honor of a deep dive conversation with very respected men and women of the press, from the traditional to the digital space, citizen journalists, bloggers and more. It is an interesting cohort, and I am sure that at the end of this initiative, the impacts would be felt. Let me quickly appreciate the Search For Common Ground’s Katlong, Daniel, Temisan, Emmanuela, Fatima Madaki, the Country Director, and all the wonderful souls and the work we all do in this space.
My presentation was about the complex dynamics at the intersection of religion and human rights in Nigeria, with a focus on striking a balance between the fundamental right to freedom of religion and the broader societal interests. Using real-world examples, the session explored the challenges and opportunities inherent in navigating religious diversity while upholding human rights principles with fixation on media practitioners. From issues of religious minorities’ rights to the impact of religious beliefs on public policies, the presentation offered insights into the delicate equilibrium required for peaceful coexistence. By examining specific cases and their outcomes, I sought to give them a nuanced understanding of the intricate relationship between freedom of religion and the collective interests of Nigerian society.
I sincerely hope as takeaway they were able to understand a little of the legal framework surrounding freedom of religion in Nigeria, a comprehensive examination of the constitutional and statutory provisions, as well as their practical implications.
I danced graciously around Constitutional Provisions:
- Nigeria’s Constitution, particularly Chapter IV, guarantees the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
- Sections 38 and 39 specifically address freedom of religion, ensuring individuals the right to practice, change, and manifest their religion or belief.
I looked at the Limitations and Exceptions:
- We collectively agreed that despite constitutional guarantees, there are limitations to freedom of religion, especially when it comes to public order, safety, morality, and the rights of others.
I encouraged them to further look up Religious Freedom Laws:
- By examining specific legislation related to religious freedom, such as the Religious Discrimination (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.
- Exploring how these laws are enforced and their effectiveness in protecting religious minorities.
We touched a handful of Court Decisions:
- Analyzing landmark court decisions that have shaped the interpretation and application of freedom of religion.
- And also looking at cases involving conflicts between religious practices and other legal provisions or societal interests.
Conversations like these can’t be complete without Government Policies:
- Evaluating government policies that may impact freedom of religion, such as regulations on religious institutions, licensing, or recognition was important
- Assess the extent to which these policies promote or hinder religious freedom.
It was exciting listening to perspectives for Practical Implementation:
- Examining how freedom of religion is practically implemented at the grassroots level for media personnel.
- Encouraging journalists to investigate instances where there may be discrepancies between legal guarantees and actual experiences of individuals and communities.
And finally looking at Challenges and Opportunities:
- By identifying challenges faced by the media, the individuals or religious groups in exercising their freedom of religion.
- Explore opportunities for legal reforms or advocacy to strengthen religious freedom protections with the media personnel.
It was important that we x-rayed the Sharia Law Implementation:
- In some Northern states of Nigeria, the implementation of Sharia law has been a source of tension. Cases have arisen where individuals, often from minority religious groups, have faced legal consequences under Sharia law, leading to conflicts between religious freedom and the desire for a unified legal system.
Examine Religious Practices in Educational Institutions:
- Conflicts have emerged over the enforcement of religious practices in educational institutions. For instance, debates over the use of religious attire or the observance of specific religious rituals within schools have raised questions about the balance between religious freedom and the need for uniformity and inclusivity.
Discuss the Registration and Recognition of Religious Group and Interfaith Marriages:
- Issues related to the registration and recognition of religious groups have led to conflicts. Some groups may face challenges in obtaining official recognition, impacting their ability to practice and propagate their faith freely.
- Cases involving interfaith marriages sometimes face opposition or legal challenges, especially when societal norms or interpretations of religious laws conflict with the principles of freedom of choice in marriage.
My presentation looked at the Expression of Religious Beliefs in Public Spaces:
- Disputes have arisen regarding the expression of religious beliefs in public spaces. For example, debates over religious displays, public prayers, or proselytization activities may raise concerns about the potential impact on social harmony and the rights of individuals with different beliefs.
And the important issues surrounding Medical Practices and Religious Beliefs:
- Instances where medical practices conflict with religious beliefs, such as vaccination or blood transfusion, have sparked legal debates. Balancing individual religious rights with societal interests in public health and safety is a recurring challenge.
These examples demonstrate the complex nature of balancing religious freedom with societal interests in Nigeria. Legal cases and public debates surrounding these issues highlight the ongoing need for nuanced considerations and robust legal frameworks to address conflicts and protect individual rights.
Here are some key approaches that the journalists can navigate through:
- Legislative Clarity and Protection:
- Establish clear and comprehensive legislation that protects freedom of religion while also defining reasonable limitations to prevent abuse. Legislation should aim to strike a balance that respects individual rights and considers the broader welfare of the community.
- Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding:
- Promote interfaith dialogue and understanding to foster a sense of unity and respect among different religious communities. Increased understanding can reduce misconceptions and prejudices that may lead to conflicts.
- Education and Awareness:
- Implement educational programs to raise awareness about the diversity of religious beliefs and practices. This includes incorporating teachings on religious tolerance, pluralism, and respect for individual choices within school curricula.
- Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution:
- Establish mechanisms for mediation and alternative dispute resolution to address conflicts arising from religious differences. This allows for a more flexible and consensual approach to dispute resolution, minimizing the need for adversarial legal proceedings.
- Community Engagement and Participation:
- Encourage active participation of religious communities in decision-making processes that affect them. Inclusive governance structures can help ensure that policies and practices respect the diverse religious landscape of the community.
- Human Rights Education:
- Integrate human rights education that includes a focus on religious freedom into school curricula, professional training programs, and community outreach initiatives. This can empower individuals to understand their rights and responsibilities in a diverse society.
- Legal Aid and Advocacy:
- Provide legal aid services to individuals facing discrimination or restrictions on their religious freedom. Advocacy efforts can focus on challenging laws or practices that disproportionately impact specific religious groups.
- Collaboration with Religious Leaders:
- Engage religious leaders as advocates for religious freedom and tolerance. Religious leaders often play a significant role in shaping community attitudes, and their support can contribute to a more inclusive and harmonious society.
- National and Local Platforms for Dialogue:
- Create platforms at the national and local levels where representatives from different religious communities can engage in constructive dialogue. These platforms can address grievances, share perspectives, and find common ground.
- Regular Review of Legislation:
- Establish a mechanism for the regular review of legislation related to religious freedom to ensure its relevance and effectiveness. This process should involve input from diverse stakeholders, including legal experts, religious leaders, and civil society.
By adopting a multifaceted and collaborative approach, societies can work towards creating environments where individual rights and communal well-being are mutually respected and protected.
And in conclusion I opined that:
The role of media… in promoting understanding and tolerance in the context of religious freedom is crucial for fostering a harmonious and inclusive society. Here’s a discussion on their respective roles:
- Media:
- Promoting Diversity: Media outlets can contribute to understanding by accurately and respectfully representing the diverse religious landscape. Highlighting stories that showcase positive interfaith interactions and initiatives can challenge stereotypes and promote tolerance.
- Responsible Reporting: Journalists should adhere to ethical reporting standards, avoiding sensationalism or biased narratives that can contribute to misunderstanding and conflict. Responsible journalism includes providing context and avoiding the amplification of divisive rhetoric.
- Educational Campaigns: Media organizations can initiate educational campaigns that raise awareness about various religious beliefs, practices, and traditions. This can contribute to breaking down stereotypes and fostering a climate of acceptance.
I believe that FoRB is an important conversation that we must collectively engage in, so that, in the end—Nigeria will win!
By Luke Kyohere
The global payments landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation. New technologies coupled with the rising demand for seamless, secure, and efficient transactions has spurred on an exciting new era of innovation and growth. With 2025 fast approaching, here are important trends that will shape the future of payments:
1. The rise of real-time payments
Until recently, real-time payments have been used in Africa for cross-border mobile money payments, but less so for traditional payments. We are seeing companies like Mastercard investing in this area, as well as central banks in Africa putting focus on this.
2. Cashless payments will increase
In 2025, we will see the continued acceleration of cashless payments across Africa. B2B payments in particular will also increase. Digital payments began between individuals but are now becoming commonplace for larger corporate transactions.
3. Digital currency will hit mainstream
In the cryptocurrency space, we will see an increase in the use of stablecoins like United States Digital Currency (USDC) and Tether (USDT) which are linked to US dollars. These will come to replace traditional cryptocurrencies as their price point is more stable. This year, many countries will begin preparing for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), government-backed digital currencies which use blockchain.
The increased uptake of digital currencies reflects the maturity of distributed ledger technology and improved API availability.
4. Increased government oversight
As adoption of digital currencies will increase, governments will also put more focus into monitoring these flows. In particular, this will centre on companies and banks rather than individuals. The goal of this will be to control and occasionally curb runaway foreign exchange (FX) rates.
5. Business leaders buy into AI technology
In 2025, we will see many business leaders buying into AI through respected providers relying on well-researched platforms and huge data sets. Most companies don’t have the budget to invest in their own research and development in AI, so many are now opting to ‘buy’ into the technology rather than ‘build’ it themselves. Moreover, many businesses are concerned about the risks associated with data ownership and accuracy so buying software is another way to avoid this risk.
6. Continued AI Adoption in Payments
In payments, the proliferation of AI will continue to improve user experience and increase security. To detect fraud, AI is used to track patterns and payment flows in real-time. If unusual activity is detected, the technology can be used to flag or even block payments which may be fraudulent.
When it comes to user experience, we will also see AI being used to improve the interface design of payment platforms. The technology will also increasingly be used for translation for international payment platforms.
7. Rise of Super Apps
To get more from their platforms, mobile network operators are building comprehensive service platforms, integrating multiple payment experiences into a single app. This reflects the shift of many users moving from text-based services to mobile apps. Rather than offering a single service, super apps are packing many other services into a single app. For example, apps which may have previously been used primarily for lending, now have options for saving and paying bills.
8. Business strategy shift
Recent major technological changes will force business leaders to focus on much shorter prediction and reaction cycles. Because the rate of change has been unprecedented in the past year, this will force decision-makers to adapt quickly, be decisive and nimble.
As the payments space evolves, businesses, banks, and governments must continually embrace innovation, collaboration, and prioritise customer needs. These efforts build a more inclusive, secure, and efficient payment system that supports local to global economic growth – enabling true financial inclusion across borders.
Luke Kyohere is the Group Chief Product and Innovation Officer at Onafriq
In a heartfelt statement released today, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has extended its warmest congratulations to Ghana’s President-Elect, emphasizing the importance of learning from Ghana’s recent electoral success as Nigeria gears up for its 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, the CNPP highlighted the need for Nigeria to reclaim its status as a leader in democratic governance in Africa.
“The recent victory of Ghana’s President-Elect is a testament to the maturity and resilience of Ghana’s democracy,” the CNPP stated. “As we celebrate this achievement, we must reflect on the lessons that Nigeria can learn from our West African neighbour.”
The CNPP’s message underscored the significance of free, fair, and credible elections, a standard that Ghana has set and one that Nigeria has previously achieved under former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. “It is high time for Nigeria to reclaim its position as a beacon of democracy in Africa,” the CNPP asserted, calling for a renewed commitment to the electoral process.
Central to CNPP’s message is the insistence that “the will of the people must be supreme in Nigeria’s electoral processes.” The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria CNPP emphasized the necessity of an electoral system that genuinely reflects the wishes of the Nigerian populace. “We must strive to create an environment where elections are free from manipulation, violence, and intimidation,” the CNPP urged, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take decisive action to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The CNPP also expressed concern over premature declarations regarding the 2027 elections, stating, “It is disheartening to note that some individuals are already announcing that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2027. This kind of statement not only undermines the democratic principles that our nation holds dear but also distracts from the pressing need for the current administration to earn the trust of the electorate.”
The CNPP viewed the upcoming elections as a pivotal moment for Nigeria. “The 2027 general elections present a unique opportunity for Nigeria to reclaim its position as a leader in democratic governance in Africa,” it remarked. The body called on all stakeholders — including the executive, legislature, judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and civil society organisations — to collaborate in ensuring that elections are transparent, credible, and reflective of the will of the Nigerian people.
As the most populous African country prepares for the 2027 elections, the CNPP urged all Nigerians to remain vigilant and committed to democratic principles. “We must work together to ensure that our elections are free from violence, intimidation, and manipulation,” the statement stated, reaffirming the CNPP’s commitment to promoting a peaceful and credible electoral process.
In conclusion, the CNPP congratulated the President-Elect of Ghana and the Ghanaian people on their remarkable achievements.
“We look forward to learning from their experience and working together to strengthen democracy in our region,” the CNPP concluded.
By Kenechukwu Aguolu
The proposed tax reform, involving four tax bills introduced by the Federal Government, has received significant criticism. Notably, it was rejected by the Governors’ Forum but was still forwarded to the National Assembly. Unlike the various bold economic decisions made by this government, concessions will likely need to be made on these tax reforms, which involve legislative amendments and therefore cannot be imposed by the executive. This article highlights the purposes of taxation, the qualities of a good tax system, and some of the implications of the proposed tax reforms.
One of the major purposes of taxation is to generate revenue for the government to finance its activities. A good tax system should raise sufficient revenue for the government to fund its operations, and support economic and infrastructural development. For any country to achieve meaningful progress, its tax-to-GDP ratio should be at least 15%. Currently, Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio is less than 11%. The proposed tax reforms aim to increase this ratio to 18% within the next three years.
A good tax system should also promote income redistribution and equality by implementing progressive tax policies. In line with this, the proposed tax reforms favour low-income earners. For example, individuals earning less than one million naira annually are exempted from personal income tax. Additionally, essential goods and services such as food, accommodation, and transportation, which constitute a significant portion of household consumption for low- and middle-income groups, are to be exempted from VAT.
In addition to equality, a good tax system should ensure equity and fairness, a key area of contention surrounding the proposed reforms. If implemented, the amendments to the Value Added Tax could lead to a significant reduction in the federal allocation for some states; impairing their ability to finance government operations and development projects. The VAT amendments should be holistically revisited to promote fairness and national unity.
The establishment of a single agency to collect government taxes, the Nigeria Revenue Service, could reduce loopholes that have previously resulted in revenue losses, provided proper controls are put in place. It is logically easier to monitor revenue collection by one agency than by multiple agencies. However, this is not a magical solution. With automation, revenue collection can be seamless whether it is managed by one agency or several, as long as monitoring and accountability measures are implemented effectively.
The proposed tax reforms by the Federal Government are well-intentioned. However, all concerns raised by Nigerians should be looked into, and concessions should be made where necessary. Policies are more effective when they are adapted to suit the unique characteristics of a nation, rather than adopted wholesale. A good tax system should aim to raise sufficient revenue, ensure equitable income distribution, and promote equality, equity, and fairness.
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