The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has solicited for the collaboration of Nigerians in order to achieve human rights protection.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) made this statement at the official inauguration of the NHRC Office in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
Fagbemi who spoke on the imperatives of the NHRC having its own office, the Minister recalled that the Commission was established pursuant to UN Resolution 48/134 of 20th December 1993 as well as the Paris Principles for the establishment of National Human Rights Institutions.
Under the Paris Principles, the AGF noted, the NHRC is expected to be independent in the execution of its mandate, structure and operations.
He said: “this independence is further guaranteed under Section 6(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Act, 2010 (“NHRC Act”), which provides that in carrying out its mandate and operations, the Commission shall not be subject to the control of any authority or person”
Fagbemi while reiterating the principles of independence and accountability as enshrined in the NHRC Act, which are critical to the work of the NHRC, as they allow the Commission to carry out its responsibilities without any interference, said:
“The Federal Government, therefore, supports the Commission in its role to promote and safeguard human rights, which also aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration, under the able leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
He said the President is strengthening the fabrics of human rights saying that this was unequivocally demonstrated at the onset of this administration when the Boards of all parastatals were dissolved and the attention of Mr. President was called to the special nature of the Board of the Human Rights Commission.
“Mr. President, due to his predisposition to respecting human rights, directed that the Board of the Human Rights Commission be immediately restored and the Board has continued to enjoy the full cooperation and support of the Federal Government of Nigeria till date,” he said.
He additionally hinted that the Governor of Kebbi promised to provide at least one (1) operational vehicle to the office of NHRC in Kebbi State, through the State Justice Sector Reforms Team.
The Chairperson, Governing Council NHRC, Dr. Salamatu Suleiman noted that the NHRC was supported by the Budget Office of the Federation and the National Assembly from 2009.
According to the former Minister of Women Affairs, the Commission embarked on the construction and completion of nine new Offices. The Kebbi State Office being commissioned today (24th February, 2025) was among those awarded so far while others will be awarded as funds become available.
The Chairperson used the opportunity to appeal to the federal government for further support in areas such as adequate funding, construction of the remaining 22 State Offices, resourcing the Human Rights Fund under the Act, amendment of the Act in line with the observations made by the Sub-committee on Accreditation that reviewed the status of the NHRC in 2023 among other things.
Also, she commended the Kebbi State government for providing the land on which this structure is built and for providing an enabling environment for the Commission’s State Office to carry out its job.
In his statement at the occasion, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu stated that the Commission under his watch would focus on the legal framework provided by the Nigerian Constitution, which instrument is committed to upholding the rights of everyone in Nigeria.
He however reechoed the challenges the challenges that militate against the realization of human rights in the country, which includes ignorance of rights and legal procedures, lackadaisical attitudes towards human rights, hindering the access to justice among others.
He said: “Additionally, the non-justiciability of Chapter 2 of the Constitution is also a major hurdle we must overcome because a great percentage of rights abuses and violations revolve around the issues under this Chapter.”
Ojukwu therefore reiterated the fact that “human rights are not mere privileges; they are the bedrock of our collective well-being. As State actors collaborating with the Commission, we bear the duty to protect and promote these rights in our State “.
He gave kudos to his former Boss, Dr. Bukhari Bello, a former Executive Secretary of the NHRC, the Hon. Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) who he said was also physically present to commission the NHRC Lagos State Office in 2024, while his predecessor, Abubakar Malami (SAN) approved the Kebbi Office project in 2020.
In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Dr. Nasir Idris pledged the commitment of his administration to support the reforms in the justice sector which according to him is geared towards the protection and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria.
The Governor, who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Yakubu Bala promised to provide at least one project vehicle to ease the work of the Commission in addition to ensuring that the new Office is connected to the national grid for power supply.
