The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu OFR SAN has called on the Federal, State and Local Governments to prioritise their respective obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of Nigerians.
In a statement to commemorate the 2023 Human Rights Day and the Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Chief Executive Officer of the NHRC urged governments to use the occasion to “reflect on the tripartite obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights and ensure that these are reflected in budgetary, policy, legislative and programmatic activities of government.”
For governments to respond effectively to the socio-economic challenges of poverty, inequalities and security bedevilling the nation, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria called on policy makers to adopt human rights-based approaches which will “implement to the letter, the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in Chapter 2 of the Constition, by placing the security and welfare of Nigerians above personal, partisan, ethnic and religious interests and considerations.”
According to Dr. Ojukwu, adopting human rights-based approaches to economic and policy reforms will ensure that government prioritises achievement of its obligations to fulfil the human rights of all Nigerians.
The Executive Secretary also used the occasion to urge law enforcement and security agencies “to reflect on the past and imbibe practices that respect the fundamental rights of citizens” in the performance of their constitutional roles.
