(SINL NIGERIA) The federal government on Tuesday reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria.
Consequently, government has taken concrete steps to strengthen the institutional framework.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) made the disclosure in Abuja.
These include the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission, the passage of the Anti-Torture Act, the Violence against Persons Prohibition Act and the ratification of several international human rights treaties.
This comes as the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN) has urged the federal government and state governments to ensure a speedy and effective implementation of the recommendations of the Special Independent Investigative Panel (SIIP) on North East, to heal the wounds of human rights violations.
The Attorney General spoke on the occasion of commemoration of the 2024 international human rights day.
The theme of this year: “Our rights, our future, right now,”, according to the Attorney General serves as a strong reminder that human rights are the cornerstone of a just, equitable, and peaceful society.
He said “it emphasizes the imperative of collective action to safeguard the inherent dignity and worth of every individual, and to ensure that all persons enjoy their rights and freedoms without discrimination or distinction”.
Fagbemi, represented by Roseline Tasha, acknowledged the significant progress Nigeria has made in promoting and protecting human rights.
The Attorney General told the gathering that President Bola Tinubu has approved and gazetted that the National Human Rights Commission be designated as the National Preventive Mechanism of Nigeria (NPM) in fulfillment of Nigeria’s international obligation under the optional protocol to the UN convention against torture.
“Furthermore, we are committed to ensuring that our laws, policies, and practices are aligned with international human rights standards.
“I assure all Nigerians that the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a human rights friendly and listening government. Amongst other commendable steps taken by this government in the interest of justice and human rights is the discontinuation of the prosecution of children and young person arraigned in court for treason following the End bad governance protests of august and October 2024”.
He added “We will continue to work with relevant stakeholders including civil society organizations, the private sector, etc, to promote a culture of respect for human rights in Nigeria.
“As we commemorate International Human Rights Day today, I call on all Nigerians to join us in this noble endeavour.
“Let us work together to create a society where every individual can live free from fear, stigma, and persecution. Let us promote a culture of respect, tolerance, and inclusivity, where every person’s rights are valued and protected.
“I commend the National Human Rights Commission for establishing a panel to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the three-part Reuters report against the Nigerian Military.
“The panel’s findings exonerating the Nigerian Military of alleged gross human rights violations underscores the Commission’s capacity to impartially investigate allegations of human rights violations, ensuring accountability regardless of the parties involved”.
Fagbemi noted “Notwithstanding, we recognize that there are still challenges to be addressed, and we recommit ourselves to working tirelessly to ensure that the rights of all Nigerians and every person living in Nigeria are respected, protected, and fulfilled”.
Earlier, Ojukwu in a welcome statement revealed that the Commission has for the 5th time earned Grade “A” Status, awarded by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.
He added that NHRC has thoroughly and objectively investigated allegations of gross human rights violations.
He cited the reports of the defunct SARS Panel, saying it has remained a reference point by human rights defenders given the crucial role the Commission’s report has played in ongoing police reforms .
“It is on record that the panel which submitted its reports to the federal government under the regime of former President Muhammad Buhari, made far reaching recommendations on how to reform the Police including the establishment of State and Local Government Police”.
He continued “Part of the recommendations also included the payment of compensation to victims of police brutality which amounted to about N500 million.
“We use this opportunity to commend the Federal Government for providing the funds for the payment of the compensation, which has restored citizens confidence in government ability to protect and enforce their their human rights.
“In addition, Nigerian and indeed the international community will not forget in a hurry the landmark report of the NHRC’s Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in the North East Nigeria.
The International Human Rights Day is celebrated annually on December 10 to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It is the highpoint of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence which commenced on November 25.
