The National Human Rights Commission has called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, civil society organisations and key stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of Nigeria’s National Action Plan on human rights before 2028.
The commission’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, made the appeal during a consultative meeting on the implementation of the 2024–2028 action plan held at the Federal Secretariat in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Represented by the Oyo State Coordinator of the commission, Abayomi Ogundele, Ojukwu said the success of the framework would depend largely on stronger synergy among Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as civil society groups.
He explained that the National Action Plan was developed in line with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria.
“The framework represents Nigeria’s commitment to promoting and protecting fundamental human rights in line with constitutional, regional and international obligations,” he stated.
Ojukwu noted that challenges such as poor data collection, weak coordination and inconsistent reporting had continued to hinder effective implementation despite clearly assigned institutional responsibilities.
He said, “Your participation here today (Wednesday) reflects a shared dedication to strengthening collaboration, deepening accountability, and ensuring that the principles of human dignity, justice and equality are upheld across all sectors of our society.
“The National Action Plan is a guiding document for the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria. It represents a collective commitment by government institutions and non-state actors to address existing gaps, respond to emerging challenges and build a more inclusive and rights-respecting society.”
He recalled that Nigeria’s first National Action Plan covered 2009 to 2013, while the current 2024–2028 framework emerged after years of consultations involving government institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
According to him, the Ibadan meeting was organised to raise awareness of the framework, identify implementation gaps and improve monitoring and reporting mechanisms among relevant institutions.
“This forum will provide us with the platform to discuss modalities, clarify roles and responsibilities, harmonise efforts across sectors and address emerging gaps. More importantly, it will also allow us to strengthen synergy between Ministries, Departments and Agencies and Civil Society Organisations,” he stressed.
Also speaking, Cordelia Ojeah, representing a collaborating organisation, emphasised the need for sustained cooperation and accountability among stakeholders in advancing human rights protection nationwide.
She said, “The implementation of the National Action Plan requires collective responsibility. Government agencies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders must work together to ensure that the objectives of the framework are achieved and that the rights of Nigerians are adequately protected.”
