By Jude Opara, Abuja
The Executive Secretary/CEO, National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu has revealed that the Commission received and resolved about two million cases of human rights violations each year.
Ojukwu who spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening session of the three-day Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa, said the NHRC since inception about 30 years ago has made some giant strides including securing its independence and impactfully playing a frontline roles in the consolidation of Nigeria’s democracy.
“Our mandate has been referenced, our independence fully secured. From one office to 38 offices in all the states of Nigeria and Abuja for effective monitoring, investigation, reporting and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria.
“We currently serve as a quasi-judicial body to receive and resolve an annual average of two million complaints of human rights violations and have issued indictments to violators and paid compensations to victims. We are not resting on our oars because more than ever before, the roles of NHRIs in protecting democracy and human rights in Nigeria and across West Africa is now a necessity”.
The NHRC further remarked that the issue of human rights violations have continued to escalate in the West African sub region, which he stated are being fueled undemocratic tendencies, conflicts and activities of terrorists.
“Even as we gather in Abuja, we cannot ignore the sobering backdrop of escalating violations of human rights across West Africa occasioned by undemocratic changes of governments, shrinking civic spaces, conflicts, terrorist insurgency, forced displacements of populations and climate change”.
He called on the NHRIs to rally together and advance a unified, stable and human rights friendly sub region, given their shared experience and responsibility to advocate for the enthronement of human rights.
