By Albert Akota
President Mohammadu Buhari has inaugurated a sixteen-member Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), with a charge to safeguard rights of citizens.
Buhari, who was represented by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami, called for the entrenchment of human rights principles in accordance with the international best practices.
The President commended the staff and management of the commission for holding the dual roles blemishes before the inauguration today.
He said, “ I 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 this Council for holding the forth without blemish.”
Recall that since the appointment of the current Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu by President Buhari about three years ago there have not been a governing council to regulate the conduct of the commission.
The Executive secretary of the commission also commended the ministry of justice for the corporation and collaborations but urge for more funding of the commission.
Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated governing Council, the chairperson Dr Salami Suleimen that nation are judge by human rights pursuit and therefore urged for more funding to the commission.
To bridge the gap, President Buhari in accordance with relevant Act establishing the commission approved the appointment of a sixteen-member Governing Council for the Commission in March this year and subsequently confirmed by the senate on May 18, which have been awaiting inauguration.
