The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to protecting the rights of Nigerians.
Malami while inaugurating the 5th Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday in Abuja said, the FG has demonstrated its capability f protect the rights of Nigerians through its responses to the indictment of security officers.
He said, “It is known fact that the present government had complied with the award of damages for victims of the 2012 Apo killings of Okada riders by security agents, as well as complied with the 2018 White paper recommendations on Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian Police. The disbandment of SARS and the setting up of Various panels of Inquiry investigating and awarding damages for human rights violations by SARS is a clear testimony to the fact that this government is fulfilling its international obligation to set up an independent National Human Rights Commission for the Promotion and protection of the rights of Nigerians.”
While charging the newly inaugurated council to take the commission to a greater heights in the fight against brutality by some members of the security forces, among other things, Malami extolled the leadership prowess of the NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, for being able to effectively lead the Commission for about three years without a Governing council.
He urged the members to abide by the Code of Conduct for Public Officials as they discharge their duties.
“Council Members should be guided by the Act, and relevant Government Circulars on tenure, the part-time mandate of members except the Executive Secretary, emoluments etc.
Meanwhile, Ojukwu stated that despite the commission’s achievement has made within his few years in the office as the ES, funding and operationalization has remained the greatest challenges the commission is facing recently.
“I must make haste to point out that while most of the amendments have been effected, the aspect of government funding and operationalization of the Human Rights Fund remains a challenge. Though there has been an increase in the budgetary allocation to the commission recently, the increase has been a far cry in meeting the mandate of the commission and even in comparison to other Commissions in Africa like Kenya, Ghana, Morroco, Egypt and South Africa,” he said.
Meanwhile, members of the NHRC Governing Council inaugurated were Dr. Salamatu Husseini Suleiman (Chairperson), Tony Ojukwu Esq (Executive Secretary, NHRC), Representative of the FMOJ, Director, Legal, Mrs. D. Agba, Ambassador Umar Salisu (representing Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Mrs. D. Adeshida (representing Federal Ministry of Interior).
Others are Joseph Onyeamachi, Ahmad Abubakar, S. Asiwaju, Abubakar Mohammed (Representing Print and Electronic Media), Femi. O, Representative from the Nigerian Bar Association, Azubuike N. and representative for the women.
