The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters has screened and cleared 16 nominees for appointment to the governing board of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), including the President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Eze Anaba.
The committee, chaired by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, conducted the screening as part of the process to reconstitute the NHRC governing board following President Bola Tinubu’s request for Senate confirmation.
The committee’s report has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration, with the final decision on the nominees expected at plenary.
Anaba, who is also the Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, said his nomination would enable him to deepen his longstanding commitment to human rights, which he described as inseparable from his journalism career.
Speaking after the screening, he cautioned against assuming that the committee’s clearance amounts to final confirmation.
“We’ve just been screened. We’ve just been confirmed. So don’t let us jump the gun,” he said.
He added: “I’m happy to be approved at least by this screening committee. So until confirmation.”
Anaba said human rights advocacy has been a consistent part of his career and would continue to shape his contribution if eventually confirmed.
“I’ve done this human rights thing all my life. It has gone together with my journalism job. So it’s going to be a continuation of what I’ve been doing,” he said.
The NGE president also disclosed that he had previously participated in activities of the NHRC, although not as a member of its governing board.
He expressed confidence that the professional backgrounds of the nominees would strengthen the commission’s capacity to protect the rights of Nigerians.
“I’ve been part of Nigeria’s Human Rights Commission for a while. Not at this level. But I can assure you that with the members we have in this council, Nigeria will benefit from a very good National Human Rights Commission,” he said.
Adegbonmire said the committee had concluded the screening and would submit its recommendations to the Senate for consideration at plenary.
“The decision of this committee will be conveyed to the Senate. And the Senate will take a position at plenary,” he said.
He added that the Senate’s decision would subsequently be communicated to the President through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Adegbonmire explained that the NHRC governing board comprises 16 members, including representatives of the Federal Ministries of Justice, Interior and Foreign Affairs.
He said the representatives of the three ministries were not individually screened because the law specifies the offices to be represented rather than the names of the individuals occupying them.
“The law says there should be 16 members. Three of the members are nominees of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Interior, and Foreign Affairs. But because they are not specific as to persons, we don’t screen them,” he said.
The commission’s serving Executive Secretary, Anthony Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was also screened.
During the exercise, senators urged the nominees to uphold integrity, patriotism and commitment to the national interest if confirmed.
Senator Peter Jiya, representing Niger South, charged the nominees to place national interest above personal considerations in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Jiya expressed confidence that the commission could make a significant impact on human rights protection if its governing board operated with integrity and a strong sense of public service.
He also commended the nominees’ professional and personal qualities, urging them to balance their individual convictions with the responsibilities attached to their proposed appointments.
President Tinubu, in April, sought the Senate’s confirmation for the reconstitution of the NHRC governing board in accordance with Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010.
The law requires Senate confirmation before the governing board can formally assume office.
The nominees are drawn from various professional backgrounds, including journalism, law, public administration, academia and the security services.
They include Anaba; Maupe Ogun-Yusuf of Channels Television; Ayo Adewuyi of the Nigerian Television Authority; Chinonye Obiaku (SAN); Roseline Tasha; Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku; retired Assistant Controller-General of Corrections, Felix Lawrence; Edmund Chinonye; Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo; Professor Adedeji Ogunji; Kingsley Chidozie; Mohammed Adelodu; Otunba Francis Meshioye; Patience Patrick; and Hawwa Ibrahim.
Salamatu Suleiman was nominated as chairperson-designate, while Ojukwu was retained as executive secretary.
The NHRC is mandated to promote and protect human rights, investigate alleged violations and encourage compliance with national and international human rights standards.
The reconstitution of the governing board comes amid continuing concerns over accountability, protection of fundamental rights and the effectiveness of institutions responsible for safeguarding citizens’ freedoms.
However, despite the committee’s clearance, the nominees must await the Senate’s final decision at plenary before their confirmation process can be concluded.
- Media Report