The Governing Council of the Nigeria Human Rights Commission has assured Nigerians that despite the numerous security challenges confronting the country, it will do its best to champion the promotion and protection of human rights of all Nigerians and people living in Nigeria including the vulnerable groups and the poor.
Chairperson of the Governing Council, Dr Salamatu Hussaini Sulaiman who commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly for reposing confidence in the members to champion the course of human rights promotion, protection and enforcement in Nigeria for the next four years identified Persons Living with Disabilities, Women and Children, Street urchins and Almajiris, Internally displaced persons, refugees and migrants, trafficked persons, key populations and older persons, as the vulnerable groups in the society.
The 5th Governing Council of NHRC held its 1st Statutory meeting on September 16, 2021, at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) Abuja. The meeting which was preceded by a 3-day Council/Management retreat attracted several dignitaries including the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Human Rights, the Administrator of the NJI, two former Executive Secretaries and a former Member of the Council together with the Management of the Commission.
Other participants were from the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNCHR), the Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), the Solicitor General of the Federation, the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office (GSO) of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and the Media.
The council considered some complaints of human rights violations from the four thematic complaint departments of the commission. However, the council set up an appointment and promotions committee, finance and general purposes, complaints handling and thematic areas of focus, be approved for the work of the council.
In its bid to stop at nothing in promoting and protecting the rights of Nigerians and those living in the country; the council also approved the establishment of an Adhoc Council Committee to conduct research, develop Terms of Reference (TOR) and concept, for the implementation of the provisions of the NHRC Amendment Act 2010 relating to the Human Rights Fund. Meanwhile, the Committee’s detailed report is expected within the next two weeks from the adoption of the terms of reference.
Also, the Council is set to develop a comprehensive Human Rights Agenda for the Year 2022 and for subsequent years in order to properly focus the work of the Council.
The council, however, has set aside International Human Rights Day activities on December 10, 2021, to mark the presentation of the Human Rights Agenda of the Council for 2022 and the roadmap for resourcing the Human Rights Fund amongst other programs and activities of the Commission which should all be given adequate publicity and visibility.
A statement signed by the Executive Secretary/CEO National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu Esq. said a total of thirty-five (35) complaints initially presented by the Secretariat were considered. Ten (10) complaints were considered from each of the complaint departments of the Commission except the vulnerable Groups Department that has five.
The Council decided that some complaints should be closed having been fully investigated and settled.
It further decided that some complaints required further investigation while some were decided to be inadmissible because the issues were not within the mandate of the Commission or did not disclose any human rights violations.
The National Action Plan for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (NAP) once finalized and approved by the Federal Executive Council was directed to be escalated to the Ministry responsible for National Planning and all development partners so that any intervention for funding on human rights in Nigeria should be within the scope of the NAP document.
