The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to upholding international human rights standards during the opening of the Lagos office of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Commending the Bola Tinubu administration for safeguarding the commission’s independence, Fagbemi emphasized the government’s non-interference in the commission’s operations, particularly during the recent dissolution of parastatal boards.
Highlighting the administration’s determination to create an enabling environment for the NHRC to protect the rights of Nigerians, Fagbemi described the inauguration of the Lagos office as a significant step towards strengthening the commission’s independence. He underscored the importance of office ownership in ensuring institutional autonomy, citing international obligations outlined in UN Resolution 48/134 and the Paris Principles.
Fagbemi announced plans to establish eight additional NHRC offices across various states, further extending the commission’s reach. Meanwhile, NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, called for legislative review and increased funding to enhance the commission’s independence and effectiveness. Ojukwu emphasized the need for additional state offices, amendments to the NHRC Act, and improved resources for complaint hearings and digitization efforts.
Present at the event were notable figures including Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights, Peter Makinde, renowned rights activist Femi Falana, and NHRC Governing Council Chair, Dr. Salamatu Suleiman, among others.
