| Type of parliamentary body |
Specialized |
| Nature |
Permanent |
| Related to chambers |
House of Representatives
|
| Date of creation |
- |
| Last renewal date |
|
| Mandate |
The Committee's jurisdiction covers: (i) All Human Rights Issues including petitions of rights; (ii) Human Rights Commission; (iii) Public Trustees; (iv) Coordination and implementation of Child Rights Acts and other matters related thereto; (v) National Refugees Commission; (vi) National Agency for prohibition of Traffic in persons and other related matters ; (vii) Annual budget estimates.
Mission statement: The Committee on Human Rights of the House of Representatives will work vigorously and independently to ensure that the human rights of everyone in Nigeria are fully protected in law, policy and practice. To that end the committee will measure law, policy and practice in Nigeria against internationally accepted norms for the protecting human rights.
The Committee is committed to equality of opportunity for all and to the protection of other in its works. It will perform its functions in a manner which is efficient, informative and in the interest of all the people of Nigeria. |
| Membership |
The Committee has 12 members. They are selected by the House Selection Committee headed by the Hon. Speaker for one Legislative session of 4 years. |
| Working methods |
The Committee is committed adhering to a set of core values of accessibility, accountability, equality, fairness, independence, openness and participation. It is therefore poised to work with government and non-governmental institutions to lay the function for the establishment of a society based on:
- Equality
- Dignity
- Democratic values
- Social justice
- Fundamental human freedoms
- Fairness to all citizens
Consequently, the Committee works through the methodology of interactive sessions with relevant stakeholders, consideration of petitions on various aspect of human rights, enactments of legislation and oversighting of relevant human rights agencies of government as well as consultation with civil society bodies, international agencies, foreign missions and embassies. |
| Relations with other parliamentary bodies |
- |
| Relations with external bodies |
- |
| Subjects dealt with |
Agenda: The activities of the Committee are based on the premise that all human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent, hence is working the followings:
- National Action Plan on Human Rights Projects
It is the believe of the committee that establishing an appropriate legislative human rights framework is a way of guaranteeing respect for human rights.
In implementing the Vienna declaration of 1993, government is developing the National Action Plan, which is an integrated and systematic national strategy to help realize the advancement of human rights in Nigeria. To this end, the committee participated in the process leading to the presentation of the Nigerian human rights situation in Geneva on February 9th 2009.
It is also the considered opinion of the committee that parliament has a duty to lead the fight against human rights abuses, hence it is concluding plans to convocate a parley of the 36 States human rights committee in the country.
International Human Rights Instruments
Nigeria has signed and ratified all international and regional human rights documents. The country has achieved a high milestone by domesticating the African charter on Human and people rights, the child rights and several others.
Consequently, the Committee believes and ensures compliance to the provisions in all legislations by the parliament.
Prison Decongestion
The Committee believes in decongesting the Nigeria prisons and was actively involved in the prison reforms. To this end, it is continuing to monitor the prison situation in the country.
Parliamentary Working Group on Human Rights
The Committee is working to institute on a working group in the House of Representatives with respect to human rights issues. Preliminary talks have been concluded with relevant committees of the house. The working group will include the following committees:
- Human Rights
- Justice
- Judiciary
- Women Affairs
- Youth Affairs
- Police affairs
- Army
- Navy
- Interior
- Foreign Affairs
Promotional Activities of the Committee
The Committee engages in Promotional activities by oversight visit to institutions under its jurisdiction. Observations, experiences and lesson learnt from such visits are encapsulated into amendments in Acts of the relevant agency, increased budgetary provisions.
|
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
| Main address |
Office of The Speaker
PMB 141
Three Arm Zone
ABUJA
|
| Phone |
+234 9 46 02 51 58 |
| Fax |
+234 9 46 02 51 89 |
| E-mail |
info@speakersoffice.gov.ng, admin@speakersoffice.gov.ng |
| Website |
http://www.speakersoffice.gov.ng
|
|
|
|
PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
|
| Name |
Ms. Beni Lar |
| Notes |
Chair |
| Address (if different from above) |
No 1. Jos-Shendam Road
LANGTANG NORTH
|
| Phone |
+234 80 69 18 99 19 |
| Fax |
... |
| E-mail |
... |
| Website |
...
|
| Name |
Mr. Chinyere Emmanuel Igwe |
| Notes |
Vice-Chair |
| Address (if different from above) |
7 Egede Street. Mile 2.
Diobu Port Harcourt
RIVERS STATE
|
| Phone |
+234 80 33 05 87 65 |
| Fax |
... |
| E-mail |
honchinyereigwe@yahoo.com |
| Website |
...
|
|
SECRETARY
|
| Name |
Ms. Aribatise Omotayo |
| Notes |
Secretary |
| Address (if different from above) |
|
| Phone |
+234 80 37 87 73 96 |
| Fax |
... |
| E-mail |
... |
| web site: |
...
|
| Notes |
|
