Australian Seeks Independence of Nigerian Human
Rights Commission
The
Australian government has stressed the need for the
independence of the Nigerian Human Rights
Commission, to give it more powers to defend and
protect the rights of Nigerians.
The Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Jeff
Herd stated this in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, while
on a visit to the Commission to discuss ways of
improving the human rights situation in Nigeria.
Mr Herd said Nigeria needed a strong institution to
enforce the rights of the people without fear or
favour.
He pledged his country’s support to the Commission
in the area of capacity building.
Assurances
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights
Commission Mr Rowland Ewubare agreed that Nigeria
would not be taken seriously by the international
community, until it begins to respect the rights of
its citizenry.
He said the Nigerian government was interested in
prosecuting those involved in the recent alleged
killing of the late leader of the Islamic Sect, Boko
Haram, because it wanted adherence to the rule of
law.
FRCN/Qasim/ Funke