FG Inaugurates National Peace Commission Establishment Committee

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha,  has inaugurated the committee on the establishment of a National Peace Commission with the acting Director General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr. Bakut Bakut as chairman.

Mustapha, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Dr. Amina Bello said the National Economic Council recommended the establishment of the commission and peace agencies for states after reviewing the security situation of Nigeria in August 2017.

The committee has three months to accomplish its task and submit reports.

The IPCR Information Officer, Abu Michael said in a statement in Abuja on Monday that the NEC had identified ethno-religious crisis as one of the sources of insecurity in the country which must be addressed.

Expressing the significance of the task before the committee, he urged the members to take cognizance of the myriads of the security challenges across the country including terrorism in the North East, armed banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping in the North West; farmers and herdsmen’s crisis in the north central, secessionist agitations in the South East and others.

The SGF maintained that the peace index indicated that all parts of the country were facing one security challenge or the other hence the committee.

The committee, according to him should recommend suitable platform for resolving avoidable conflicts in order to return the country into the path of peace and sustainable development.

The terms of reference of the committee among other things was to develop a suitable framework for the establishment of NPC at the Federal level and peace agencies at state level and articulate the functions of the commission, and the peace agencies.

It would also draw the administrative structures and organogram for the commission and the state peace agencies.

The committee is expected to also recommend the legal framework for the commission and the peace agencies, and any other issues the committee members may deem relevant to the accomplishment of their assignment.

Members of the committee included the Gbong Gwom Jos, Dr. Jacob Gyang representing the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria; Prof. Is-haq Oloyede representing the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council; Navy Commodore James Pindar from the Defence Headquarters and DCP Ebong Eyibio from the Nigeria Police.

Others were Deputy Commandant-General (Crisis Management) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Adeoye Emmanuel; Director for Special Duties, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Olowoofoyeku Olusoji; Director PRS from National Orientation Agency, Bona Tagwai; Nnelai Bush representing the Department of State Services, Mr. Faanee Bebu from the Federal Ministry of Justice; and Mr. O. Olaoyefide of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.