President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the management of the National Human Rights Commission of his continuous support in its efforts to get closer to the people in order to assuage their grievances.
The President gave the assurance when he received in audience the Governing Council of the Commission in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday.
He said: “I am very pleased that you have the facilities throughout the country.
“This is very good and I am pleased with the way you approach your work; and the way you are on the ground.
“I will try and see the minister working with you and find out within our limited resources what we can honestly do for you,” he said.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of the Commission, Dr. Salamatu Suleiman said the Council decided to visit the president today being World Human Rights Day to intimate him with the commission’s efforts in tackling petitions before it.
She commended President Buhari for his generosity towards the Commission especially with its allocation “increased for the first time in our democracy” which had enabled the commission to secure offices in the six geo political zones.
According to her, state office complexes are also coming up in 10 states.
She added: “COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted political, social and economic foundations in Nigeria and Africa…leading to loss of livelihoods and increase in the level of inequalities as well as upsurge in sexual-based violence.”
She, however, assured that “the attainment of human rights obligations, especially socio-economic rights, enshrined as Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy is at the centre of implementation of the approved National Development Plan (NDP) for 2021-2025.”
The chairperson also requested the President to make the operationalisation of the Human Rights Fund a reality.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the date was chosen to honor the UN General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the first global enunciation of human rights and one of the first major achievements of the new UN.
The formal establishment of Human Rights Day occurred at the 317th Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on Dec. 4, 1950, when the General Assembly declared resolution 423(V), inviting all member states and any other interested organizations to celebrate the day as they saw fit.
The day is normally marked both by high-level political conferences and meetings and by cultural events and exhibitions dealing with human rights issues. (NAN)
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