Breaking: Ojukwu Reaffirms NHRC’s Commitment to Protection of Workers’ Rights
By Raphael Ekpang
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to the protection, promotion and enforcement of labour rights in Nigeria, describing the protection of workers’ rights as central to social justice, human dignity and national development.
Ojukwu made the remarks at a one-day capacity-building training workshop organised by the Commission to strengthen institutional knowledge and improve the timely and effective handling of labour-related complaints by staff.
Represented by the Director of Legal Services and Enforcement Department, Rabi Anwar, Ojukwu noted that Nigerian workers remain critical to national growth and development. He commended their resilience, sacrifices and contributions across all sectors of the economy.
According to him, “Our Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Department will continue to play a vital role in receiving and investigating complaints, providing redress, and facilitating quasi-judicial interventions in matters affecting the welfare, dignity and rights of workers.”
He, however, observed that many Nigerian workers still face exploitation, poor working conditions, discriminatory labour practices and limited access to effective remedies when their rights are violated.
Ojukwu stressed that the engagement was designed not only to deepen awareness of labour rights, legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms, but also to strengthen institutional systems for the protection of economic, social and cultural rights in workplaces across the country.
He added that the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, which seeks to translate policy commitments into practical and measurable actions for the protection of workers’ rights.
Reaffirming the Commission’s statutory mandate, Ojukwu said the NHRC remains guided by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Labour Act, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Factories Act, the Employees’ Compensation Act, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and other relevant national and international human rights instruments.
He expressed appreciation to resource persons, facilitators, participants and media partners for their support and contributions toward advancing accountability, justice and respect for labour rights in Nigeria.
