The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has renewed its call for stronger human rights collaboration among government institutions, civil society organisations, and development partners to improve the implementation of Nigeria’s National Action Plan on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. The Commission made the appeal during a state consultative meeting on the 2024–2028 action plan held in Ibadan, Oyo State, as part of efforts to strengthen institutional coordination and accountability.
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, said the success of the national framework depends largely on effective cooperation among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and non-state actors. He was represented at the event by the Oyo State Coordinator of the Commission, Abayomi Ogundele. Ojukwu noted that strengthening human rights collaboration remains essential to addressing implementation gaps identified in previous frameworks.
He explained that the National Action Plan is anchored on Nigeria’s obligations under the Constitution and international human rights instruments, including the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of 1993. According to him, the plan is designed to improve coordination, reporting, and monitoring systems across institutions responsible for rights protection.
Ojukwu stated that despite previous efforts, challenges such as weak data collection, inconsistent reporting, and limited inter-agency coordination have continued to affect outcomes. He added that improved human rights collaboration is required to overcome these structural constraints and ensure that responsibilities are clearly defined and effectively executed.
He further said, “The National Action Plan is a guiding document for the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria. It represents a collective commitment by government institutions and non-state actors to address existing gaps.” He stressed that the consultative process is aimed at strengthening accountability mechanisms and improving coordination among stakeholders.
According to the NHRC, the Ibadan meeting was convened to deepen awareness of the framework, clarify institutional roles, and enhance monitoring systems. The Commission said sustained human rights collaboration between government agencies and civil society remains central to achieving measurable progress in rights protection nationwide.
A representative of a collaborating civil society organisation, Cordelia Ojeah, also emphasised the importance of partnership in ensuring the success of the action plan. She noted that no single institution can achieve effective human rights protection independently and called for continuous engagement among stakeholders.
Participants at the meeting, including government officials and civil society representatives, agreed on the need for stronger coordination mechanisms. They also highlighted the importance of funding, accountability structures, and public awareness in supporting implementation efforts. The NHRC reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring the implementation of the action plan while urging sustained collaboration across all sectors to strengthen Nigeria’s human rights protection system.
