The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) on Monday inaugurated the 5TH Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), with a charge on members to contribute to the improvement of human rights records in the country.
Malami, in his inaugural speech, charged the Governing Council to uphold and improve on the standard achieved by the previous Councils and the Management of the Commission before now.
He advised Council Members to be guided by the NHRC Establishment Act, and relevant Government Circulars on tenure, the part-time mandate of members except for the Executive Secretary, emoluments etc.
“Furthermore, in discharging your duties, you are bound by the Code of Conduct for Public Officials and you are expected to take an oath of office before the resumption of your duties,” Malami said.
According to the minister, the NHRC was established by the Federal Government in 1995 in fulfilment of its international obligation pursuant to 20th December 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, he said 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 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. Since the 2010 Amendment of the NHRC Act, members are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate before appointment letters are issued.
He added that the funds of the Commission are now under the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation. This means that funds appropriated for the Commission are released one hundred per cent to perform its functions.
“Furthermore, the 2010 amendment provided that in the discharge of its functions and exercise of its powers, the Commission shall not be under the control of any authority or person.
“All these measures have been taken to ensure that the Commission is able to advise the Government properly in the fulfilment of its international human rights obligations and protect and promote the human rights of Nigerians and persons living in Nigeria without fear or favour in line with the Paris Principles,” He said.
Earlier, in his speech, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu said the NHRC Amendment Act 2010 enforces the investigation powers of the Commission and that the enforcement powers were introduced by making the decisions of the Commission enforceable as decisions of the Federal High Court.
Ojukwu who highlighted some of the achievements of the Commission, even without a governing council said, “While most of the amendments have been effected, the aspect of government funding and operationalization of the Human Fights Fund still remains as a challenge.”
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