Malami Tasks Governing Council Of National Human Rights Commission To Improve On Achievements

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has charged the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to uphold and improve on the standards so far achieved by the previous Councils and the Management of the Commission.

He gave the charge while inaugurating the fifth Governing Council members of the Commission on Monday.

He specifically said: “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.

“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.

Those inaugurated and administered oath of office include the Chairperson of the fifth Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Salamatu Hussaini Sulemain, and 15 others.

Dr. Sulemain assured on behalf of others that they would put in their best to ensure that they improve the operations of the Commission.

She solicited that the Federal Government should enhance the funding of the Commission and that of staff emoluments to halt the prevailing trends of poaching its personnel by other agencies.

Earlier, the NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, said: “The Commission has set several good practices referenced by other NHRIs like the Guidelines for Enforcement of Covid-19 Regulations, Guidelines for the Protection of Almajiri Children during the Pandemic and a host of other good practices.

“The Commission, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice is presently working with stakeholders to finalize the National Policy for the protection of civilians in armed conflict as well as the National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (which includes the new feature of the plan for Business and Human Rights).”

Further, he enumerated that the commission has embarked on the construction of offices in about 10 States namely; Lagos, Katsina, Benue, Ekiti, Imo, Adamawa, Kebbi, Anambra and Karu (FCT). We inherited and completed the construction of Port-Harcourt Office.

“In collaboration with the Enugu State Government, the NHRC Office in Enugu has been renovated to the proper standard required for our operations”, he stated.