NHRC Targets Stronger Human Rights Protection and Better Service Delivery, Reviews 2024–2027 Strategic Plan
By Raphael Ekpang
Abuja (Core Reporters) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has commenced a mid-term review of its 2024–2027 Strategic Plan as part of efforts to strengthen human rights protection and improve service delivery across the country.
The review exercise, held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, brought together management and key officials to assess progress made so far, identify implementation gaps and develop practical strategies for delivering greater impact to Nigerians.
Speaking at the opening of the exercise, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, (SAN) ⁰described the review as more than a routine administrative exercise, saying it was an opportunity to evaluate whether the Commission’s programmes and activities are translating into meaningful improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
According to him, the strategic plan should not merely exist as a policy document but serve as a roadmap for protecting the rights of citizens and improving access to justice.
“We are not here simply to tick boxes. We are here to improve lives,” Ojukwu said, urging participants to engage in frank discussions, identify weaknesses and recommend practical solutions that would make the Commission more responsive, efficient and impactful.
He noted that honest self-assessment would enable the Commission to strengthen its institutional capacity and deliver better protection for victims of human rights violations.
Presenting the Mid-Term Review Report, Miss Ateda Thomas disclosed that the assessment measured the Commission’s performance using 160 key performance indicators, covering activities from 36 state offices and 10 headquarters departments.
She revealed that more than 86,000 performance records were reviewed, making it one of the Commission’s most comprehensive internal performance assessments.
The report showed that the NHRC recorded its strongest performance in human rights education and public awareness as well as the protection of vulnerable persons, indicating increased efforts to promote citizens’ rights and provide support for those most at risk.
However, the review also identified several operational challenges, including inadequate documentation of activities, inconsistent reporting formats across departments, insufficient supporting evidence for some reports, limited resources and capacity gaps affecting programme implementation.
Participants recommended enhanced staff training, simplified reporting systems, stronger data verification processes, improved coordination among departments and a greater emphasis on proper documentation to strengthen institutional performance.
The Planning Team explained that all findings contained in the report were based on verified evidence submitted by departments, adding that the review also highlighted the need to update aspects of the Strategic Plan to reflect emerging human rights realities and improve future performance measurement.
The Commission noted that the exercise would help ensure that future interventions are more evidence-based, transparent and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.
The NHRC reaffirmed its commitment to continuous institutional improvement, stressing that the ultimate success of its Strategic Plan will be measured not by the number of activities undertaken but by its impact on access to justice, protection of vulnerable persons and the promotion of human rights across the country.
