From Fiscal Governance to Positive Peace

How Effective and Impactful is Positive Peace by IEP ?

By Ambp. Roy-Stanley Chijioke Nwafor – Country Director, IEP Nigeria

Building Institutions That Drive National Prosperity Yesterday, the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) Nigeria had the privilege of holding a strategic engagement with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to explore opportunities for institutional collaboration that advance good governance and sustainable peace in Nigeria. Our discussions focused on the critical role that strong public institutions, evidence-based policymaking, and sound fiscal governance play in fostering a more peaceful, resilient, and prosperous nation.

We also explored potential collaboration with the Commission’s Planning, Research and Statistics, Human Resource, and Allocation Directorates, with follow-up engagements planned to identify and implement concrete areas of partnership.

At IEP, we recognize that Positive Peace is sustained by well-functioning institutions, transparency, accountability, equitable resource allocation, sound public policy, and inclusive development. These principles closely align with the constitutional mandate of RMAFC and Nigeria’s broader aspirations for effective governance and national development. I extend my sincere appreciation to the Executive Chairman of RMAFC for the warm reception and for being ably represented by three distinguished Special Advisers, whose valuable insights and commitment greatly enriched our discussions. A simple way to understand Positive Peace in fiscal governance: Imagine a state government struggling to pay workers’ salaries.

Infrastructure projects are abandoned, public services begin to decline, businesses lose confidence, and communities grow increasingly frustrated. The immediate reaction is often to ask for more money or emergency financial intervention.

But a more important question is: Why did the system reach this point in the first place? Were revenues accurately assessed and transparently mobilized? Were national resources allocated using reliable data and objective evidence? Did planning, research, and statistics identify fiscal risks before they became crises? Was the workforce adequately trained and equipped to manage public resources efficiently? Were institutions collaborating to ensure accountability, transparency, and value for money? If the answer to these questions is “No,” then the fiscal crisis began long before salaries went unpaid or projects were abandoned.

The visible crisis is often the result of deeper institutional weaknesses. This is where Positive Peace becomes essential. Strong institutions, evidence-based planning, transparent resource allocation, capable public servants, and accountable governance create the conditions for sustainable development, public trust, and national stability.

Just as emergency funding can provide temporary relief, Positive Peace addresses the underlying institutional conditions that prevent fiscal crises from occurring in the first place. Sound fiscal governance is therefore more than balancing budgets—it is about building the institutional foundations that strengthen public confidence, prevent instability, and promote lasting peace and prosperity. This engagement reaffirms an important truth: peace is not merely the absence of conflict — it is the outcome of strong institutions, responsible fiscal governance, inclusive policies, and collaborative leadership. As we move forward, IEP Nigeria remains committed to strengthening partnerships with public institutions, revenue-generating agencies, academia, civil society, and development partners to advance evidence-based solutions that build a more peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Nigeria. Together, we can build institutions that strengthen peace and create lasting national prosperity