The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed its commitment to partner with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) in order to enhance the observance of human rights while conducting businesses as well as explore innovations in complaints resolutions among other things.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu stated this in Abuja when the newly elected Executives of ACCI led by Chief Emeka Obegolu (SAN) paid a courtesy visit to the Commission. He noted that “we learn every day” and therefore the Commission will not hesitate to work together with ACCI to boost human rights protection while conducting business and resolving business related disputes in the Country.
The Chief Human Rights Officer of Nigeria used the opportunity to inform the team that the Nigeria National Action Plan (2023-2025) was approved by the Federal Government in April 2023 and has been presented to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
He said, the Nigeria National Action Plan encompasses Business and Human Rights which is germane to the mandate of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry; hence the Commission has expended much effort in ensuring a safe and sustainable business environment in the Country.
He assured the group that the Commission was ready to drive the kind of training that ACCI would be bringing up so that the idea of infusing human rights in businesses and leveraging the expertise of NHRC and ACCI would be realized.
Earlier in his speech, the President of ACCI, Chief Obegolu (SAN) expressed his delight to partner with the Commission both in manpower development and training so that the organized private sector will be supported to make the expected impact on the economy.
Chief Obegolu used the opportunity to list areas of interest to his organization which included development of human resources for businesses, running of a Dispute Resolution Centre, Policy and Advocacy Center, Abuja Trade Center, Center for Business and Human Rights and Advice on Investment Choices.
He also disclosed that ACCI has the capacity to resolve disputes among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) amicably and some human rights complaints in collaboration with the NHRC, without necessarily involving the Police.
Also in the team was the new Director General of the ACCI, Sir Agabaidu Jideani, a former member of the Governing Council of the NHRC.
