The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said the United States of America is a dependable partner in deepening democracy and human rights in Nigeria.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu stated this in Abuja when the Director Office of African Affairs in the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Vincent Spera paid a courtesy visit to the Commission.
Ojukwu recalled that the U.S has been rendering tremendous assistance to the Nigerian government especially in building the capacity of the military to contain the disturbing issue of insurgency which has triggered a number of human rights challenges.
The Executive Secretary urged the visiting U.S. envoy to use his good offices to attract support to the Commission in order for it to cover more grounds in investigating and resolving diverse complaints of human rights violations. The country he stressed is huge and would certainly require alot of resources to cover all the nooks and crannies.
The Executive Secretary observed that the U.S. support to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria will yield more fruits if the Commission partner in such initiatives, adding that CSOs cannot formulate policies for government .
On some of the concerns raised by the U.S. top Official particularly in the areas of press freedom, liberty and human rights, Ojukwu assured him that the Commission is alive to its statutory mandate of taking proactive steps to protect the rights of citizens and other nationals living in Nigeria.
Earlier, the visiting democracy and human rights expert had told the Executive Secretary that the U.S. Office of African Affairs is interested in building a robust and broad relationship with Nigeria to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens and the press.
According to him there is a fundamental need to work together with the NHRC to pursue solutions in a partnership and constructive way so as to further reap the benefits of democracy and good governance.
He used the opportunity to invite the Commission to a Human Rights Dialogue holding in Washington, U.S. in November this year.
Left: Mr. Vincent Spera and NHRC’s boss, Mr. Tony Ojukwu on Wednesday at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja
