The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr Tony Ojukwu, SAN, has asked the National Assembly to consider increasing the proposed budget of the Commission from N8 billion to N19.55 billion.
Ojukwu made the plea to the two chambers of the National Assembly while defending the Commission’s proposed 2025 budget before the Joint Committees on Human Rights of the Senate and House of Representatives.
According to the NHRC boss, the growing volume of complaints of over two million annually and the cost of investigating each case is straining the Commission’s resources.
“For instance, investigating a single case costs approximately N8,000. To investigate two million cases effectively, the Commission would require N16 billion. The current allocation of N8 billion is grossly inadequate to meet this demand,” Ojukwu argued.
The budget presentation, which was held at the National Assembly Complex, highlighted the Commission’s efforts to address pressing human rights issues amidst growing economic challenges and human rights concerns in the country.
Speaking during the session chaired and co-chaired by Senator Adegbomire Adeniyi, SAN, Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, and Hon Peter Makinde, Chair House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights, Ojukwu provided a comprehensive breakdown of the Commission’s N5 billion allocation for 2024.
He disclosed that the budget achieved an unprecedented 99.999% implementation rate, which included the construction and completion of eight state offices across the country. This achievement, he emphasised, was remarkable given the Commission’s limited resources.
He said the Commission’s proposal for an N8 billion budget for 2025, representing an increase from the previous year, is aimed at addressing emerging human rights challenges such as terrorism, communal conflicts, insurgency, natural disasters like floods, and the rising cost of operations due to inflation and an increased payroll.
“The proposed budget will strengthen the Commission’s capacity to address pressing human rights issues in Nigeria,” Ojukwu stated, adding that the proposal includes funding for the establishment of more human rights offices across the country to improve access to the services of the Commission, especially in states where the services of the Commission are not felt.
He said, “This proposed budget reflects our determination to create a more inclusive and just society. It will enable us to expand our reach, respond swiftly to human rights violations, and engage effectively with communities to promote awareness and accountability.”
These efforts, according to the Executive Secretary, are essential for enhancing the Commission’s independence and effectiveness.
If approved, the proposed allocation would represent a critical step towards addressing persistent human rights challenges in Nigeria, including gender-based violence, child rights violations, police brutality, public inquiries on various investigative panels, etc.
The National Assembly is expected to conclude deliberations on the budget proposal in the coming weeks.
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