The federal government has approved the Action Plan 2022-2026 to promote and protect human rights in Nigeria.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Malami said the plan was formulated by the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) stakeholders.
He said this followed the Buhari administration’s compliance with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) judgement and payment of N135 million in compensation to victims and family members of the September 18, 2013, Apo Six killing.
The minister said the report of the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, equally adjudging Nigeria as the only African country last year “that has been in full compliance in terms of the protection of the rights of the journalists, taking into consideration that not a single incident of death of a journalist has been recorded in Nigeria arising from infractions, relating thereto.”
Malami said the policy was intended and targeted at consolidating and upscaling the Nigerian observance of the Human Rights posture in view of the successes and achievements of Nigeria, as it related to human rights under the current administration.
He said, “As you will recall, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has established the record of being the first and only administration in the history of Nigeria that has indeed tolerated, accommodated and enforced the decision of the Human Rights Commission.
“And in this respect, talking of the Apo Six, taking into consideration, the commission adjudged the government as being in breach of the human rights of certain individuals popularly referred to as Apo Six, which unfortunate incidents predate the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Human Rights Commission, adjudged the government liable to pay about N135 million to the family of the victims of the alleged infractions.
“The government of President Muhammadu Buhari took steps to ensure payment of the N135 million to the Apo Six in compliance with the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission, thereby giving teeth to the Human Rights Commission in terms of compliance with the recommendation.
“You are equally aware that the committee for the protection of journalists, which is an international committee had equally adjudged Nigeria, as the only African country last year that has been in full compliance in terms of the protection of the rights of the journalists, taking into consideration that not a single incidence of death of a journalist has been recorded in Nigeria arising from infractions, relating thereto.
“Now with those local and international successes in mind, the need has arisen for Nigeria to consolidate on the gains and upscale its provision from a local observance of the protection of the human right to international standard by way of ensuring compliance with the best practices.”
Malami said the new action plan would help prove that Nigeria was working in tandem with International best practices with regard to the protection of human rights.
Meanwhile, the council also approved a request for the construction of the corporate headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The minister of agriculture and rural development, Mahammad Abubakar, said an initial sum of N6 billion would be used to commence the construction of the new headquarters.
Abubakar said the proposed headquarters would be a 10-storey building and would be called Agriculture House.
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