BY ANTHONY OCHELA, ABUJA
Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Dr Tony Onukwu has disclosed that the complaint profile of the agency has since crossed the two million mark in a single calendar year.
Ojukwu disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday at the 2024 National Legislative Forum on Human Rights attended by members of the National Assembly and other stakeholders.
He noted that the forum was in furtherance of the agency’s mandate to promote, protect and enforce human rights in Nigeria and they have been working tirelessly to achieve this goal.
The secretary said since its inception, the commission has achieved numerous milestones including the “development of a National Action Plan for the promotion and protection of human rights, National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and the creation of a complaint treatment mechanism”.
He said the complaint treatment mechanism comprises “four dedicated complaints departments working closely with the 36 states offices across the federation to address the ever increasing complaints by victims of human rights abuses in Nigeria.”
According to him, the commission’s job description obligates it by law to explore partnership and deepen human rights culture in Nigeria.
“To this end, we have worked closely with various stakeholders, including the government, civil society organizations, and the international community, to promote human rights and the rule of law in Nigeria.
“As part of our mandate, the National Human Rights Commission is tasked with reviewing policies, draft bills, and laws to ensure they align with human rights principles. This Legislative Forum is therefore a strategic initiative that enables us to fulfill this mandate.
“By engaging with lawmakers and stakeholders, we aim to integrate human rights norms into the legislative process, ultimately promoting a culture of respect for human rights in Nigeria”, Ojukwu added.
He noted that their efforts have been assisted by partners including “the Rule of Law and Anti Corruption programme, RoLAC, The Ford Foundation, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR, and the Legal Defence and Assistance Project, LEDAP, Drug Harm Reduction Network, DHRAN, amongst several others” and expressed gratitude for their unwavering support and invaluable contributions.
In his keynote address, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, commended the efforts of the commission which he said has over the past three decades made remarkable progress in addressing rights violations and promoting the dignity of Nigerians.
The speaker, who declared the forum open, also acknowledged that the NHRC’s assignment has continued to face significant challenges including funding and infrastructural constraints that limit its operational capacity but which, going forward, the National Assembly is committed to address.
Highlighting the need for supporting institutions like the Rights Commission to meet its mandate, Abbas also noted that “Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees and international commitments establish a strong framework for protecting the dignity and freedoms of all citizens.
“However, translating these commitments into reality requires addressing issues such as gender-based violence, police accountability, discrimination, and threats to freedom of expression.
“These challenges, exacerbated by insecurity, systemic poverty, and weak enforcement mechanisms, present opportunities for growth and reform. We must strengthen our institutions, enhance enforcement capabilities, and foster trust between the government and the people.
“By doing so, we can build a nation where human rights are respected and protected as the bedrock of our democracy”, Abass added.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Adeniyi Adegbomire, SAN, said democracy can not be achieved without human rights and that the suggestions at the forum should be forwarded to the House of Assembly for necessary action.
He said the National Assembly is considering various amendments to the constitution and added that it is the law that directs what fundamental human rights are.
Adegbomire told participants at the forum that, in the amendments to the constitution, the National Assembly will ensure that every Nigerian will have a sense of belonging.
Also speaking, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, Mudashiru Lukeman, who represented the Chairman of the committee, Dr Abiola Makinde, lamented lack of funding to the Commission and promised to push for improved funding for the NHRC for a better result.
He said during the oversight visit of his committee to the commission, it was discovered that the Commission is grossly underfunded and promised that the funding that will be allocated to the Commission in the 2025 budget will be far better than what it got this year.
On his part, the Minister of Health, Ali Pate, who was represented, commended the NHRC for not online being alive to its mandate but ensuring that it encompasses all and sundry including the health.
He particularly charged the commission to engage discussion on pragmatic ways to evolve a human rights friendly policy in tackling the use of illicit drugs given the challenges that come with meeting the needs of persons who are actually victims rather than offenders.
