The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu, has declared that the proposed review of the Commission’s Act would significantly strengthen its capacity to protect the rights of Nigerians.
Ojukwu made this known on Wednesday during a public hearing at the House of Representatives on the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill, 2024 (HB.1867) and the National Human Rights Commission Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2025 (HB.2376).
According to him, the repeal and re-enactment bill is designed to deepen the Commission’s independence and enhance its operational capacity in response to emerging human rights challenges. He stressed the need to address contemporary rights issues and establish a sustainable Human Rights Fund to ensure financial autonomy and rapid response during crises.
The NHRC boss explained that the new bill would formally incorporate the National Preventive Mechanism domiciled in the Commission, strengthen oversight of detention facilities, and provide legal backing for the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. He added that the legislation clearly outlines sources of funding for the proposed National Human Rights Fund to guarantee stability and independence.
Ojukwu further noted that the bill proposes that the Executive Secretary of the Commission must be a qualified director within the NHRC, rather than an external appointee without prior experience in human rights practice.
On the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill, he said the legislation would provide safeguards for individuals and groups who face threats, harassment, or intimidation while defending the rights of others.
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by Hon. Useni Jalo, reaffirmed the commitment of the House to enacting strong laws that protect citizens and strengthen democratic institutions.
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Malik Fall, represented by Ms. Ajuwa Kufour, also expressed support for the bills. He noted that their passage would further align Nigeria with the Paris Principles governing national human rights institutions.
Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, Hon. Dr. Abiola Peter Makinde, assured stakeholders that the legislature would continue to support human rights defenders and promote citizens’ rights through inclusive and participatory lawmaking.
However, offering a differing perspective, Imarha Oghenenyerowo Reuben, Chief State Counsel at the Federal Ministry of Justice, who represented the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, argued that Nigeria may not necessarily require new laws. Instead, he called for the harmonisation and strengthening of the existing NHRC Act, emphasizing effective implementation as the priority.
Also speaking, Dr. Clement Nwankwo of the Legal Policy and Advocacy Centre commended the Committee for its sustained consultations. He described the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill as vital, noting that anyone confronting undignified living conditions in pursuit of justice is, in essence, a human rights defender deserving protection.
Stakeholders at the hearing generally agreed that reinforcing the NHRC’s legal and institutional framework remains critical to advancing dignity, accountability, and the protection of human rights across Nigeria.
