The Minister of Justice Inaugurates New Human Rights Governing Council
The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami says the Buhari administration has made significant progress in respect of the human rights of Nigeria.
Malami was speaking at the Inauguration of the newly appointed 12-member governing council of the Human Rights Commission on Monday
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria who inaugurated the newly appointed governing council stated that the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has recorded successes in compliances and recognitions of human rights of Nigerians, which include an award of damages for victims of 2012 Apo killing of okada riders by the security agents, and the disbanding of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, for violating human rights among others.
While appreciating the efforts of the Executive Secretary, management and staff of the National Human Rights Commission, he urged the new governing council to uphold and improve on the standard achieved by the previous councils and Management of the commission.
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu in his address stated that the commission, through the assistance of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria, had recorded several achievements which according to him include the purchase of twenty investigation project vehicles, construction of new offices in ten states of the federation, maintenance and improvement of facilities of the commission
He said that the commission had established several good practices referenced by other National Human Rights Institutions in the world
The newly appointed and the first female chairman of the governing council, Dr Rahamatu Suleiman, who spoke on behalf of the council pledged to put all hands on deck to ensure improvement on the work done by the previous councils.
He expressed hope of having a cordial working relationship with the staff and management of the commission to take the commission to greater heights.
Ozo Joseph Mmamel, a member of the newly inaugurated council, in an interview with the SignatureTV, said that their appointment would strengthen the commission in the fight against violation of human rights in the country, adding that the council would work with other rights protection agencies of the government to prevent and eradicate human rights abuses.
The Inaugurated members of the governing council include Joseph Mmamel, Ahmed Fingilla, Kemi Osiwaju Okenyodo, Abubakar Muhammed, Feni Okeowo, and Sunday Etim Daniel.
Others are Agabaidu Jideani, Nella Andem-Rabana, Azubuike Nwakwenta, Jamila Isah, Idayat Hassan, with Rahamatu Suleiman as the chairman.
