PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of fifteen nominees to the board of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), including the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) and Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s human rights protection framework.
News Point Nigeria reports that the request was formally conveyed in a letter read during plenary by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
According to the letter, the nominations are part of efforts to reconstitute the board of the commission in line with statutory provisions governing the NHRC.
The list of nominees comprises individuals drawn from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media, legal, diplomatic and public sectors.
At the centre of the nominations are the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba, alongside Dr. Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman, who has been proposed as chairman of the board. Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) was also nominated to serve as Executive Secretary of the commission.
Other nominees listed by the President include Mrs. Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, ACG Felix Lawrence, Mr. Edmund Chinonye, Mr. Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo, Professor Adedeji Ogunji, Kingsley Chidozie, Mohammed Adelodu, Maupe Ogun Yusuf, and Otunba Francis Meshioye as members of the board.
Also nominated as members are Patience Patrick and Hawwa Ibrahim.
President Tinubu stated that the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010, which empowers the President to constitute the board subject to confirmation by the Senate.
He explained that the reconstitution of the board had become necessary in order to strengthen the institutional capacity of the commission and enable it to more effectively discharge its mandate of promoting and protecting human rights across the country.
Following the presentation of the request on the floor of the Senate, the upper legislative chamber referred the nominations to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and submission of a report within two weeks.
If confirmed by the Senate, the new board is expected to play a critical role in reinforcing the oversight functions of the National Human Rights Commission, especially at a time of heightened concerns over rights protection, accountability and governance in Nigeria.
