The Bill to establish the National Religious Harmony Commission (SB 504) scaled second reading in the Senate on Wednesday, 6 April 2022. The Bill seeks to prohibit all forms of religious victimization, harassment, violence and hate speech.
Leading the debate on the Bill, the sponsor, Sen. Sadiq Suleiman Umar (APC: Kwara) informed lawmakers that the Bill establishes a Commission which shall be responsible for the following:
- Monitoring, investigating and prosecuting all cases of religious discrimination and taking any other action as it may deem expedient in each circumstance.
- Assisting victims of religious discrimination to seek redress.
- Undertaking studies on all matters relating to religious rights and practices including the formulation of policies that guarantees the right to freedom from religious discrimination and victimization.
- Monitoring and investigating all cases of religious extremism, hate speeches and utterances capable of inciting religious violence.
- Promoting inter-religious education at all levels of educational institutions.
In his submissions, Sen. Umar explained that the Bill creates an enabling environment for various religious beliefs, provides a forum for public enlightenment and dialogue on religious beliefs and identities, and checkmates the effect of religious bigotry, religious profiling, religious stereotyping and religious extremism.
Citing Order 76(3) of the Standing Orders of the Senate which deals with Procedure on Bills, Compendium and Consolidation, Sen. Umar spoke on the financial implications of the establishment of the Commission noting that it will cost N158,042,050.32.
The Bill which was unanimously adopted has been referred to the Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters for further legislative action.
