Be Proactive, NHRC Tells Lawmakers

The executive secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Prof. Bem Angwe, has urged National and State Assemblies to be proactive in enacting laws that protect the rights of ordinary Nigerians.

Angwe said this while receiving a delegation led by the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. David Iorhemba, yesterday, in Abuja.

He added that adequate legal framework was required to achieve good governance which was central to the enjoyment of rights, “nobody is insulated from rights abuse. It is therefore important to have an effective Legal framework for redressing all violations of human rights.’’

He also reminded the legislators of his earlier call on State Houses of Assembly to forward copies of all pending and future bills before them to the commission for vetting and added that the purpose was to promote good governance.

He said, ‘’if there is good governance, our hospitals are equipped, our roads are in good shape and our schools provide good quality education, then there will be less violation of peoples’ rights’’.

The executive secretary called for synergy between the law makers and the NHRC to improve the lots of Nigerians.

In his remarks, the Speaker said that they were in the commission to express support and cooperation to the work of the NHRC.

The NHRC, he reiterated, was a creation of the law and therefore deserve the support of all Nigerians. This was just as he said that it was the duty of the legislature to ensure that the NHRC discharges its constitutional obligations without hindrance.