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Tag: Reps

  • Reps name 19-member committee to oversee emergency rule in Rivers state

    Reps name 19-member committee to oversee emergency rule in Rivers state

    The House of Representatives has constituted a 19-member special ad hoc committee to oversee the implementation of the emergency rule in Rivers State, in line with its resolution during the approval of the President’s request at plenary.

    The committee, chaired by House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, is scheduled to be inaugurated on Tuesday, April 15, by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen.

    Members of the committee include the Minority Whip, Hon. Ali Isa J.C., who will serve as Deputy Chairman; Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Isiaka Ayokunle Ibrahim; former Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Ahmed Wase; Leader of the North-East Caucus, Hon. Aliyu Muktar Betera; and Leader of the North-West Caucus, Hon. Sada Soli, among others.

    The oversight Committee also include leader of the South West caucus, James Abiodun Faleke, Leader of the South East caucus, Igariwey Iduma Enwo, Shehu Saleh Rijau,. Wole Oke, Akarachi Etinosa Amadi, Patrick Umoh, James Barka, Alex Egbona, Isa Anka, Amos Daniel, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, Onuh Onyeche Blessing and Fatima Talba. 

    The Chief of Staff to the Speaker, Prof. Jake Dan-Azumi is expected to head the Secretariat of the committee. 

    Spokesman of the House, Akintunde Rotimi said in a statement that the committee followed the resolution of the National Assembly approving the proclamation, with amendments, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request declaring a State of Emergency in Rivers State.

    He said, “The Proclamation presented to the National Assembly by Mr. President was subjected to rigorous legislative consideration and duly amended to strengthen democratic safeguards and uphold the principles of checks and balances.

    “One of the most consequential amendments was the designation of the National Assembly – rather than the Federal Executive Council – as the oversight authority for all regulations issued under the emergency arrangement.

    Read Also: Reps committee raises alarm over increase smuggling of illicit drugs

    “In line with Section 5 of the State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation, 2025, and pursuant to Section 11(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the House has constituted a dedicated Ad-Hoc Committee to monitor implementation and ensure that governance in the state remains within the bounds of constitutionalism and rule of law.

    Rotimi said the decision to constitute the committee underscores the resolve of the House to uphold the supremacy of the constitution and ensure that extraordinary measures taken during the emergency period remain subject to legislative oversight, guided by transparency, accountability, and the best interest of the good people of Rivers state.

  • Reps committee raise alarm over increase smuggling of illicit drugs

    Reps committee raise alarm over increase smuggling of illicit drugs

    The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has vowed to investigate alleged diversion of Containers imported with finished goods to the Free Trade Zones  across the country to avoid payment of duties leading to the loss of over N1.6 trillion by the government. 

    Chsirman of the Committee, Leke Abejide, who spoke when he led other members of the common on an oversight visit to the Lagos Free Trade Zone raised concern over the large quantityof hard drugs being smuggled into the country. 

    Abejide said the Committee has series of report of finished goods being imported into the free zone with the aim of evading  the payment of duties on such goods.

    He said the Committee has received reports that, the criminal act is being perpetrated with the connivance of some customs licenced agents and officials of the service to shortchange the nation of needed revenues.

    He said the act which amount to great economic sabotage is being perpetrated through various Commands of the service, saying “recently, over 100 trucks loaded with imported items lined up to offload their content into a free trade zone in Kano. 

    “What are they doing in a free trade zone when they are not carrying raw materials? They were supposed to go to a bonded terminal. We have information on all these practices. 

    “We know those involved in this practice and we are going to carry out an investigation dating five years back and we will recover all the revenue the government has lost over these years”.

    He said the House will do everything possible to ensure that the problem is addressed, while preventing the misuse of the free trade zones to the detriment of the Nigerian economy. 

    He said further free trade zone companies are also in the habit of under paying their duties because of the provisions of the law which allows them to make payment three months after production, saying such companies first take their products to the market, well them before making whatever payment that pleases them. 

    He said the government is losing billions in revenue to this practice. 

    Speaking on the seizure of hard drugs and other unregistered drugs being smuggled into the country, Abejide said the practice was worrisome as the nation’s youths are now constantly exposed to drugs. 

    He speaking against the backdrop of reports of seizure of large quantity of drugs such cannabis sativa, Canadian loud and tramadol, Abejide threw his weight behind clamour for capital punishment for those involved in the smuggling of drugs into the country. 

    The various customs formation in zone A had reported the seizure of large quantity of cannabis and tramadol which they said have been handed over to both the NDLEA and NAFDAC for necessary action. 

    He said “the interception nof illicit drugs is common in all the places we have been to, from Seme to Idiroko, from Apapa to Tincan, PTML, to the FOU, the Airport and now the Lagos Free Trade Zone. 

    ” We are in danger in this country is we keep allowing all these drugs to come into the country. This is happening because there are no scanners. So, we must take this issue of scanners seriously to help nip this act in the bud. 

    Read Also: Reps to amend Customs Act for CGC’s four-year tenure

    “This is alarming, but we can help minimise it in the interest of this nation. We have to do something about it and that is why I am in support of the initiative to have capital punishment for those involved in bringing illicit drugs into the country”.

    The Area Comptroller  in charge of the Lagos Free Trade Zone,  Olanrewaju Olumoh told the committee that the command intercepted  two containers of tramadol and one trailer load of unregistered drugs between January and March 2025.

    He also informed the Committee that, despite being the youngest Command, the Lagos Free Trade Zone Command emerged as a front-runner in revenue performance, adding that so far, it has generated about N113 billion in the first three months of the year. 

    He explained that free trade zones are designed to facilitate the landing of goods, raw materials  semi finished goods and even finished products without the immediate payment of duties. 

    He said the policy framework strategically designed to stimulate economic growth, promote industrialisation, generate employment and attract foreign direct investment. 

  • Reps to amend Customs Act to provide four-year tenure for CGC

    Reps to amend Customs Act to provide four-year tenure for CGC

    The House of Representatives plans to amend the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) 2023 to allow for the appointment of a Comptroller General of Customs for a four-year tenure, according to Leke Abejide, Chairman of the House Committee on Customs and Excise. 

    Abejide, who spoke at the headquarters of Zone A, Federal Operations Unit of the Nigerian Customs Service, noted that the current act, which provides for the appointment of a career officer to head the service, does not permit a four-year tenure for the Comptroller General. 

    He explained that the provision, initially included in the current act, was removed by the Legal Department of the service because it would conflict with civil service rules. 

    He stated, “We wanted to have a provision in the current act to enable a four-year tenure for the CGC, but the legal department removed it, claiming it would not be viable. However, it works in the police. 

    “If you appoint a CGC, he will need time to implement his programs and oversee a system reform. If he only spends one or two years before leaving, possibly due to retirement, what impact can he truly make? 

    “Therefore, we will work on amending the act to reinstate that provision. We will collaborate with the management of the service on this.” 

    Abejide also informed the officers of the command that work on the zonal headquarters is in progress and will be completed within 18 months, providing them with adequate space to operate. 

    He clarified that the committee does not aim to extend the tenure of the Comptroller General, but rather to ensure that anyone appointed by the President to that position will serve a four-year term. 

    Kola Oladeji, Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit, informed members that the unit, as an enforcement branch of the service, seized approximately 4,000 bags of foreign rice worth about N294 million in a single operation, while foiling the attempted exportation of 6,160 pieces of donkey skin, loaded in a 1×40 ft container with a street value of N6.709 billion and N5.420 billion, respectively. 

    The comptroller also disclosed that in a carefully discreet operation, the command intercepted five automatic shotguns and 993 live cartridges from a mobile luxury bus in the Lagos metropolis, which have been handed over, along with other seized arms and ammunition, to the National Agency for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

    Read Also: Reps to investigate port terminal operators 

    Additionally, he stated that the command seized about 3,643 kg of cannabis sativa and Canadian loud at various locations within the command, worth N1.720 billion, which has been submitted to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. 

    He explained that in the first quarter of 2025, the command made 307 seizures with a street value of N9.921 billion while generating N121.797 million in revenue during that period. 

    At the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command, Area Comptroller Harrison Effiong reported that the command generated around N16.920 billion in the first three months of the year. 

    He also noted that the command seized 142 parcels of cannabis worth over N290 million, which have been handed over to the NDLEA, along with $648,000 and €182,760, which have been transferred to the EFCC.

  • Reps to investigate port terminal operators

    Reps to investigate port terminal operators

     Tony Akowe, AbujaThe House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excuse has said it will launch an investigation into the activities of terminal operators over delay in clearance of goods at the nation’s premier port, Apapa. 

    The Committee said it was unfortunate that rather than enhance revenue generation efforts of the government, terminal operators were rather hampering revenue generation with unnecessary delays, deliberately creating gridlock at the port. 

    Chairman of the Committee, Leke Abejide, who spoke on behalf of the Committee during an oversight visit to the Apapa Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, said the operators were not living to the tenets of the concession agreement they entered with the Nigerian government. 

    He frowned at the long delays by the terminal operators in the clearance of goods by Customs agents, forcing them to pay heavy demurrage which he said does not benefit the government, 

    Abejide said terminal operators have become the biggest problems encountered by the Nigerian Customs Service evrn though they are supposed to collaborate with them to facilitate easy clearance of goods. 

    He said something of the big shipping companies operating in the country and terminal operators behave like demi gods, doing whatever pleases them at the expense of Nigerians, adding that the time has come when something drastic need to be done to address the situation. 

    According to him: “Stakeholders in the business are losing a lot of money due to delays that is not occasioned by them or the Customs Service. The painful aspect is that these operators are not losing anything. It is these stakeholders tuat are losing. 

    “The demurrage that accumulate abe has to be paid is not going to the government. It is going to terminal operators and we will invite them to the National Assembly so that we can address this situation once and for all.”

    Read Also: Reps panel urges provision of capital budget for FCT area council secretariats

    Addressing series of complaints against APMT, one of the Terminal operators, Abejide said: “APMT is not here to help Nigeria. They are actually here to kill this country. 

    “The electronic call up system is a fraud because it is not helping our economy. We can no longer condone this and so, we must do something about it”.

    Abejide said the committee will investigate the concession arrangements with APMT which he said is supposed to expire any moment with a view to looking for credible Nigerians to take over the operation or the terminal. 

    He also explained that the implementation of the 4 percent Free On Board collection by the service was suspended to allow for further stakeholders engagement and enlightenment before the full take off. 

    He said it was observed that some officials implementing the FOB were still collecting other charges which the Customs and Excise Act has outlawed, thereby creating mixed feeling about the implementation. 

    He said the 4 percent FOB will return after the enlightenment as it was aimed to benefit the service and it’s stakeholders, saying “with waiver, the Customs is losing so much money. But with the FOB, the big companies who run away with our money will no longer be able to do that”.

  • Reps panel urges provision of capital budget for FCT area council secretariats

    Reps panel urges provision of capital budget for FCT area council secretariats

    Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Ancillary Matters, Hon Fred Agbedi, has urged that the challenge of zero capital budget for the various departments and mandate secretariats of the FCT should be urgently addressed.

    Agbedi, who made the call when he led members of the Committee on oversight to inspect the level of construction of the Palaces of the traditional rulers of Wako and Pai, both in Kwali Area Council of the FCT, said this was due to the fact they offer direct service to the people.

    He urged the Minister and the Minister of State of the FCT to ensure that the secretariats have their own capital content of the budget.

    This was as officials of the Kwali secretariat complained that among issues responsible for the state of the projects was the challenge of zero budget allocation.

    Deputy Director, Implementation, Planning and Monitoring (IPM) of the Kwali Area Council Secretariat, Arc Jamil Sa’ad, said the review of the projects as well as budgetary problems were responsible for why the projects were stalled. 

    Agbedi expressed displeasure with the state of the two Palaces, saying they were as good as abandoned.

    The Committee Chairman said there was a need to meet with the Secretariat and the contractor to know what is amiss.

    He urged the officials of the secretariat to furnish the Committee with all relevant documents pertaining to both projects, so they would be able to know what they need to address the situation.

    He said it was unfortunate that the projects that started in 2020 had not neared completion.

    Agbedi said, “I think the project in Pai appears a little more impressive than the one in Wako, but the fact remains that these projects have been abandoned for quite a while. And these are projects that are meant to house our traditional rulers. I think a lot more quick attention is required here.  

    “Let me also use this opportunity to add that in the course of our oversight, expecting that the budget of the FCT will soon be brought before the House of Representatives, before the National Assembly, it is proper and procedural that we do oversight on ongoing projects, projects that are halted in one way or the other.

    “In the course of our oversight session, we have come to observe that in all the mandate secretariats there is no capital content that is provided for, which is, as far as this committee is concerned, not the right way to go.  

    “If you spend government money, you should be able to account for it. And it is when these secretariats have capital overhead and personnel costs that they will be able to account for the money. 

    Read Also: LP Reps caucus rejects Abure’s move to change its leadership

    “If you don’t spend the money, then you may not have the responsibility of accounting for the money. And so I think we want to, as a committee, use this opportunity to request the FCT leadership, the Minister and the Minister of State, to ensure that the mandate secretariats have their own capital content of budget, so that this committee will be able to go down to the details in asking for accountability. 

    “This is because once you spend government money, you must also account transparently for that money that you expended. And if it is not reflected in the budget of the secretariats, then it will be difficult for you to call them to account for such money. 

    “We have been confronted with that situation almost all through the secretariats that we visited. And I think that Parliament will take notice of it and deal with the situation so that we can have transparency and accountability in the running of government office and expenditure at the mandate secretariat.”

    “We will do our best to ensure that we deliver service to the constituents. It is our duty to ensure that we interface with those in the executive to ensure that we deal with issues like this that are yearning for attention.”

    Member representing Gwagwalada/Kuje/Kwali/Abajo Federal Constituency of the FCT, who is also a member of the Committee, Hon Abdulrahman Ajiya, said the traditional rulers had complained about the challenge with their palaces.

    He also expressed displeasure with the state of the projects and assured that the Committee would work towards addressing them.

    “We have seen the situation of the palace there and in fact we are not too happy with what we have seen because it’s almost an abandoned project.  

    “The Chairman of the Committee did not shy away by expressing his dismay. Lots of questions were asked and the committee has asked the FCT Area Council Secretariat to furnish the committee with some documents. 

    “Here we are in the Pai. We can see that the level of work here is a bit better than Wako. And questions were raised, why the disparity? And we have equally again asked the FCT Area Council Secretariat to furnish the committee with some relevant information.

    “However, a pertinent question was asked by this committee on when the project started. And we are told it was in 2020. And here we are today, 2025, and nothing has been done. 

    “And I think a question again was asked about the budgetary provision of this project and to our dismay we learned as at last year nothing was appropriated for this project. If we are really passionate about our traditional rulers’ comfort I think this time around we need to look into the budget that will be presented to ensure that amounts are appropriated for these projects.

    “I want to assure the people of this community that as far as this committee is concerned, this committee is ready to see to the development and the well-being of the people of FCT.”

    The Traditional Ruler of Wako, the Etsu-Mi Wako, HRH Abdulaziz Ibrahim, who received the lawmakers in his domain, said the project took off well, but was eventually abandoned.

    He expressed gratitude for the lawmakers’ visit and was hopeful it would address the problem.

  • LP not a Ponzi scheme, Reps caucus tells Abure

    LP not a Ponzi scheme, Reps caucus tells Abure

    Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives has dismissed the supposed appointment of a new leader for the caucus by the embattled former national chairman of the party, Julius Abure, saying the party was not a Ponzi scheme. 

    Leader of the caucus, Afam Victor Ogene described as laughable, naive and misleading, the purported appointment.

    In response to an earlier statement by the caucus which welcomed last Friday’s Supreme Court judgment and indicated willingness to work for the internal peace and progress of the party under the leadership of the national caretaker Committee, led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, Abure yesterday announced the ‘sacking’ of Afam Victor Ogene as the caucus leader.

    But the Labour Party federal lawmakers said, “The position of a caucus Leader is not an office based on appointment; rather the Leader is chosen/elected by peers based on their own conviction of his/her leadership qualities and capacity to speak on their behalf in the overall interest of the party and the people they represent.

    “The caucus made this clarification in a statement on Tuesday, in response to several inquiries from the media and other party faithful arising from developments after the Supreme Court pronouncement sacking the LP chairman”.

    The statement recalled that on May 6, 2023, a 35-member Labour Party caucus in the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives elected Hon. Afam Victor Ogene as its Leader. Ogene, a ranking member from the 7th Assembly, emerged as the Labour Party leader with 21 votes, after a keenly contested election.

    “Although 34 Members-Elect of the Party were present at the voting session, only 31 of them took part in the exercise with the trio of Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, Obi Aguocha and Professor Lilian Oby Orogbu abstaining, being persons who conducted the exercise.

    “So, it’s only the members of the caucus who overwhelmingly elected him, that have the right to remove him as leader, not “an authoritarian power thirsty individual that’s still battling, without much success, to extricate himself from the muddy waters of multiple allegations of malfeasance,

    “If Abure’s latest ill-advised tactics is because of the stand of the Caucus lauding the judgement of the Supreme court, which unequivocally declared that Abure’s tenure has long lapsed, then he is way off-mark, because that remains the majority position of LP House of Representatives members – a fact that would be reinforced on Wednesday, April 9, by the number of legislators that will attend the NEC/Stakeholders meeting convened by the Party’s National Leader, Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti.

    “We need to let Abure know, and boldly too, that the Labour Party is a credible organization and not a ponzi scheme, because sadly, everything about his leadership style is all about forgery, money and more money.

    “From Ebonyi, to Plateau, Ondo, Edo (where he embarrassed the party through his undignified episodes with the police), it’s all about slush funds and compromise of the integrity of the office of a party National Chairman. Even in Anambra last week, the mention of the name Abure, has continued to emit a putrid smell of financial malfeasance.

    “He may wish to tell Nigerians, and the world, what is at the centre of his feud with Eze Oko Splendour of Ebonyi State, Kenneth Imasuagbon in Edo, and the aspirants that took part in last weekend’s Anambra LP gubernatorial farce.

    Read Also: LP crisis escalates as Abure-led NEC threatens to sanction Otti, Obi

    “It is appalling that a man who is yet to account for Party finances arising from the 2023 general elections, nor leaves any penny in the party’s account – despite raising hundreds of million naira in sale of forms and other gratifications in several off-season elections – would be so engrossed in wanting to access funds belonging to the House of Representatives Caucus, which only points to the depths Abure can go to in search of free funds to fund his new-found lifestyle.

    “Ironically, no sane organ of the party would entrust the Supreme Court-sacked former national chairman with money, no matter how little, at least, until he is able to cleanse himself of the twin evil of allegations of forgery and pilfering party funds levied against him by former national treasurer of the LP, Oluchi Oparah. 

    “Funds belonging to the caucus are intact, and would only be deployed in a manner prescribed by members, not by the former chairman’s discretion.

    “The Labour Party deserves a clean break from that integrity-deficient leadership history, to a future that all party faithful will be proud to associate with.”

  • JUST IN: Reps rescind decision on bill seeking to strip VP, Governors of immunity

    JUST IN: Reps rescind decision on bill seeking to strip VP, Governors of immunity

    The House of Representatives on Thursday rescinded its decision to pass for second reading a constitutional amendment Bill to strip the Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors of immunity as conferred by section 308 of the Constitution as amended. 

    The House also rescinded its decision to pass for second reading the bill to amend the Constitution to review penalty for certain category of offences. 

    Read Also: JUST IN: Reps move to strip Vice President, Governors, Deputies of immunity

    The two bills were passed for second reading on Wednesday and referred to the House Committee bon constitutional review. 

    The bill striping the Vice President and others of immunity titled: “a Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Qualify the Immunity Conferred on the President, Remove the Immunity Conferred on the Vice President, the Governors and their Deputies in Order to Curb Corruption, Eradicate Impunity and Enhance Accountability in Public Office” is sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers). 

    Also, the bill on penalty for certain capital offences titled: “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Review the Penalties for Certain Capital Offences in Alignment with Relevant International Best Practices,”” is sponsored by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu & 6 others. 

    The Deputy Speaker who presided over plenary said the rescission of the decision to pass them for second reading became necessary in view of the need to subject them to further debate. 

    Kalu said the bills will be brought back to the House for debate by members in view of the sensitive nature of the issues involved. 

    Details Shortly.. 

  • Reps member Waive wants Delta APC to adopt Oborevwori in 2027

    Reps member Waive wants Delta APC to adopt Oborevwori in 2027

    The member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu Federal Constituency (Rev) Francis Ejiroghene Waive, has urged the Delta chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as its sole gubernatorial candidate for the 2027 elections.

    Speaking to journalists during the week, Waive emphasised that Governor Oborevwori’s strong rapport with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu demonstrates his deep understanding of governance. 

    He also lauded the Governor’s performance, stating that “Gov Sheriff has shocked every Deltan with his people-oriented programs and quality projects.”

    According to Waive: “It will be impossible for any other candidate to beat Gov Sheriff come 2027,” adding that his coming to APC is value addition and that this will bring an immediate end to the crisis engulfing the party in the State. 

    “I can see Gov Sheriff Oborevwori and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu coasting to victory on the APC ticket. This synergy is what APC Delta needs at this moment. Not only will this bring peace to the party, it will make victory very certain.”

    Read Also: Oborevwori threatens to revoke non-performing contracts

    The lawmaker further highlighted that the principle of governorship rotation among Delta’s three senatorial districts favors Oborevwori, who would be serving only one more term. 

    He called on all Deltans to support this move, emphasizing that it would strengthen party unity and enhance the state’s development.

    “I want victory for my party and for President Tinubu. This is the way to go. Moreover the rotation of the Governorship between the three Senatorial Districts favors Governor Sheriff who has only one term left. I call on all Deltans to support this move as it will further unite us as a people,” he added

  • Reps to probe N1.242 trillion Sukuk-funded road projects

    Reps to probe N1.242 trillion Sukuk-funded road projects

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday directed its Committee on Works to conduct a forensic probe into the allocation, expenditure, and outcomes of the N1.242 trillion Sukuk funds raised from 2017 to 2024.

    The committee is to identify the utilisation, instances of diversion, inflation, or contractor noncompliance. 

    In a resolution following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi (SDP, Nasarawa), the House asked the Ministry of Works to provide the Committee on Works with detailed real-time records of all Sukuk-funded projects, including financial disbursements, project statuses, and contractor performance as at date and to be updated every quarter.

    Moving the motion, recalled that since 2017, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), through the Debt Management Office (DMO), has raised over N1.1 trillion through six Sovereign Sukuk issuances to finance 124 federal road projects spanning 5,820 kilometres across the nation’s six geopolitical zones, with the most recent data from the SEC in December 2024 confirming this amount (approximately $657.6 million USD at current exchange rates).

    Read Also: Reps committee to Lab Council: curb influx of inferior equipment

    According to him, the Sukuk financing breakdown includes N100 billion (2017), N100 billion (2018), N162.557 billion (2020), N250 billion (2021), N130 billion (2022), and N350 billion (2023), with indications from posts on various reports suggesting an additional N150 billion was issued in October 2023, pushing the cumulative total to approximately N1.242 trillion by the end of 2024, pending official DMO confirmation for late 2024 issuances.

    He said despite this significant investment, Nigeria’s road infrastructure remains in a deplorable state, with over 70% of the country’s 200,000-kilometer road network still unpaved, as noted by S&P Global Ratings in January 2024.

    He expressed concerns that without robust accountability mechanisms, the Sukuk program risks becoming a conduit for mismanagement or corruption. 

  • Reps, NHRC, UK govt, others pledge support to deepening rights protection in Nigeria

    Reps, NHRC, UK govt, others pledge support to deepening rights protection in Nigeria

    The House of Representatives, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the government of the United Kingdom and other stakeholders have pledged to support efforts at deepening human rights protection and promotion in Nigeria.

    They made the commitment in Abuja on Wednesday at the “Inter-agency consultative workshop on the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) for the promotion and protection of human rights” organised by the NHRC and the House of Reps Committee on Human Rights, with support from the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and the UK International Development.

    Chairman of the House of Reps Committee on Human Rights, Abiola Makinde assured stakeholders of his committee’s commitment to support efforts at promoting human rights in the country.

    Represented by the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Mudashiru Lookman, Makinde noted that “the importance of the protection of the rights of every Nigerian cannot be over emphasized.”

    He noted that despite past efforts by stakeholders, “There are several Nigerians that still face discrimination, inequality and injustice.

    “There is the need for us all to continue to speak up and support those who are denied their fundamental human rights.

    “All hands must be on deck to achieve greater result for the respect, protection and promotion of the rights of all citizens in order to have a more respectable, just and peaceful nation,” Makinde said.

    NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu (SAN) noted that the obligation to promote, protect and fulfil human rights “is a fundamental imperative for the state, which has been reinforced by regional and international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a party.”

    He stressed the importance of the NAP in achieving the goal of deepening rights protection and promotion in the country, noting that the NAP is not just a document, but a strategic roadmap for integrating human rights into governance, policy-making, and institutional frameworks.

    Ojukwu addes that “the NAP serves as a strategic framework to audit, improve and monitor human rights through collaboration among government, civil society, and other national and international stakeholders.”

    He explained that the essence of Wednesday’s workshop was to activate the implementation framework of the NAP by bringing together key stakeholders across government agencies, civil society, and development partners. 

    “We recognize that effective implementation requires a coordinated, multi-sectoral, and inter-agency approach to ensure that the principles enshrined in the NAP translate into concrete actions that impact the lives of all Nigerians,” he said.

    PLAC’s Executive Director, Clement Nwankwo, who frowned at the increasing cases of right abuse in the country, said effort was on to amend the Constitution to classify the parading of suspects publicly as a human rights violation.

    He commended the initiative behind the NAP, noting that with the plan, a lot could be achieved in promoting human rights in the country.

    Nwankwo sought the continued assistance of the two committees of the Senate and House of Reps in this direction.

    The Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission Nigeria, Gill Lever said the UK government remained commited to its continued support of Nigeria in efforts to deepen human rights promotion and protection in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Reps urge INEC to restore 13 state Assembly constituencies in Delta, Kogi

    Lever, who drew a parallel between human rights protection and economic growth in any society, urged Nigerians to learn to always hold their elected leaders accountable.

    She added: “As Africa’s largest democracy, Nigeria’s journey towards the consolidation of human rights is instructive. 

    “Human rights are the cornerstones of any just and fair society. They empower individuals, reject the wrong moves and foster inclusive development.

    “Collective experience across the world demonstrate that the realisation of human rights fosters peace, security, prosperity and societal development.

    “So, Nigeria’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights is pivotal to the development of its democracy,” Lever said.