Why FG exempted NHRC board from dissolution – AGF
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on Tuesday, explained why the Federal Government did not dissolve the board of the National Human Rights Commission during the dissolution of boards of all parastatals carried out last year.
In June 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the dissolution of the Governing Boards of all Federal Government parastatals, agencies, institutions, and government-owned companies.
Following the dissolution, the Chief Executive Officers of the parastatals, agencies, institutions, and government-owned companies were directed to refer matters requiring the attention of their boards to the President, through the permanent secretaries of their respective supervisory ministries and offices.
In August same year, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, set up an ad hoc committee to review the resumes of individuals who would fill the boards.
The NHRC, among a few other commissions, was excluded from the dissolution.
According to the AGF, who spoke at the unveiling of the Lagos State Office of the NHRC, the commission was exempted because it needed to be independent in the execution of its mandate, structure and operations.
The minister joined other eminent personalities including the Chairman, House Committee on Human Rights, Peter Makinde, and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, (SAN), among others to unveil the NHRC office building located at 17, Balogun Street, Off Kudirat Abiola Road, Alausa, Ikeja.Related News
Fagbemi said according to the Constitution, “Under Section 6(3) of the NHRC Act 1995 as amended, the commission, in carrying out its mandate and operations, shall not be subject to the control of any authority or person.
“In fact, during the last dissolution of boards of all parastatals of the FG, the government exempted the Governing Council of the commission from the general dissolution of the boards in deference to its independence under the enabling Act and Paris Principles.”
He said the administration of Bola Tinubu “believes in the promotion and protection of the human rights of Nigerians and is therefore determined to provide the enabling environment for the commission to effectively protect the rights of Nigerians.”
Speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Human Rights, Makinde, said the National Assembly especially the committee under him would continue to support all that had to do with human rights in Nigeria.
In her opening remarks, the chairman of the Governing Council of the NHRC, Dr Salamatu Suleiman, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, the budget office of the federation and the National Assembly for appropriating funds for the building project.
According to her, a former office of the commission was served demolition notice by the Lagos government in 2019 over structural defects, and “the commission sought and obtained approval for the demolition of the old structure and erection of the present modern office complex being unveiled today.”
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr Tony Ojukwu, said the commission was assured that with the support and respect of the commission’s independence by the FG, the NHRC would continue to record giant strides.
