NASS frowns at poor funding of National Human Rights Commission

The National Assembly has frowned at the poor funding of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, despite the high volume of work undertaken by the agency.

Representatives of the National Assembly, including the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire, SAN, and the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, Mudashiru Lukeman, spoke of the need for improved budgetary allocations to the Commission at the 2024 national legislative forum on human rights, organized by the NHRC in Abuja.

Lukeman, who represented the Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, Dr Abiola Makinde, noted that the NHRC is underfunded.

“Lack of funds is the biggest challenge faced by the NHRC,” he said, adding that the agency’s allocation, which is less than N5 billion, is not enough when considered alongside high volume of cases being handled by the Commission.

The lawmaker however promised to push for improved funding for the NHRC in the 2025 budget.

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“I want to say it here, boldly, that 2025 budget will not be like the past one,” Lukeman assured.

Also speaking at the event, Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate, Senator Rufai Hanga, said the Senate would support efforts to improve the funding of the NHRC.

The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr Tony Ojukwu, SAN, said the legislative forum was organised with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) as part of activities marking the international human rights week.

Ojukwu, who lamented the rise in cases of human rights violations in the country, disclosed that the NHRC receives over two million complaints of rights abuses every year.

“The Commission is committed to addressing the ever-increasing human rights conflict.

“We receive over two million complaints a year and that is mind-boggling. It is important to mention that the complete profile of the Commission has since crossed the two million mark,” Ojukwu said.

Ojukwu added that the Commission is collaborating with various stakeholders, including government, civil society organisations, international organisations and the national and state assemblies, to promote human rights and the rule of law across the country.

“In the discharge of the mandate of the Commission, we were mediated by law to explore partnership and deepen human rights culture in this country.

“As part of our mandate, the Commission is asked to review policies, draft bills, and laws to ensure that they align with human rights principles.

“This legislative forum is, therefore, a strategic initiative that enables us to fulfill this mandate, and by engaging with the lawmakers and stakeholders.

“We aim to integrate human rights norms into the legislative processes, ultimately promoting a culture of respect for human rights in the area.

“We also have a national action plan for business and human rights, and has created a compliant treatment mechanism comprising four dedicated departments working tirelessly in all 36 states across Nigeria,” Ojukwu added.