The Attorney General and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has urged newly inaugurated Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to uphold and improve on the standard achieved by the previous councils and the management of the Commission.
The minister also noted that the disbandment of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) and the setting up of Various panels of Inquiry investigating and awarding damages for human rights violations by SARS was a clear testimony that the President Muhammadu Buhari government is fulfilling its international obligation to set up an independent National Human Rights Commission.
Malami spoke on Monday at the inauguration of the 5th governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission in Abuja.
Specifically, he admonished the council members to be guided by the Act, and relevant Government Circulars on tenure, the part-time mandate of members except the Executive Secretary and emoluments.
He recalled that the Commission was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1995 in fulfillment of its international obligation pursuant to 20th Dec 1993 Resolution 48/134 of the United Nations General Assembly that enjoined all member States to establish National Human Rights Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
“This followed the adoption of the Paris Principles of 1993 for the Establishment of National Human Rights Institutions at the 2nd World Conference on Human Rights in Paris 1993. The first world conference on human rights had been held in Vienna Austria in 1991”.
He explained that government amended the NHRC Act in 2010 for its operational independence by entrenching the tenure of members and ensuring adequate funding and effectiveness of the Commission.
According to Malami, “since the 2010 Amendment of the NHRC Act, members are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate before appointment letters are issued”.
“It is indeed gratifying and it beholds on the Governing Council to uphold and improve on the standard achieved by the previous Councils and the Management of the Commission before now” Malami said.
He however warned members of the governing council that in the discharge of their duties, “you are bound by the Code of Conduct for Public Officials”.
Meanwhile, Malami used the opportunity to commend the Executive Secretary, staff and Management of the National Human Rights Commission who have managed the affairs of the Commission pending the appointment and inauguration of the Council for holding the forth without blemish.
The Attorney General expressed optimism of a cordial working relationship between the Management and the Council to ensure steady progress and achievement of greater heights for the Commission in the near future.
Earlier, in a welcome statement, Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu commended the management and staff of the commission for holding forth before the inauguration of the new council on Monday.
“The last council was dissolved in 2016, through the efforts of the management, the commission has maintained its A status and embarked on vigorous maintenance and improvement in the infrastructure of the commission” he said.
He added that management and staff earnestly hope that the council will continue to prioritize both the mandate and welfare of staff, saying both are connected for the achievement of the objectives for which the commission was set up by the founding fathers.
Speaking on behalf of governing council shortly after inauguration, the council chairperson, Dr. Salamatu Suleiman emphasised that Nations are judged by their human rights record.
Consequently, she called for adequate funding for the commission, saying the Commission cannot do much without funding.
Suleiman lauded the Attorney General and minister of Justice for securing favourable judgement for the country, even as she also harped on staff welfare.
