By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (Precise Post) – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has proposed a significant budget of ₦19.55 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, seeking an ambitious expansion of its operations to improve access to human rights services across Nigeria. The proposal was presented during a recent budget defence session before the Joint Committees on Human Rights of the Senate and House of Representatives at the National Assembly Complex.
Dr. Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary of the NHRC, emphasized that the increased budget was necessary to effectively address growing human rights challenges in the country, expand the Commission’s reach, and enhance its capacity to serve Nigerians, especially those in remote and underserved communities. He revealed that the Commission had already made significant progress in 2024, fully implementing its ₦5 billion budget, which included the completion of eight new state offices.
The NHRC has made significant strides in improving access to justice, particularly at the grassroots level. The establishment of these state offices in 2024 has allowed the Commission to respond more swiftly to human rights complaints and improve its outreach efforts. According to Dr. Ojukwu, this has directly contributed to better awareness of human rights issues and more effective interventions in communities.
However, the Commission’s leadership now seeks to scale up these efforts, recognizing the need for further expansion to cover every region of the country. The proposed ₦19.55 billion budget would enable the NHRC to open more state offices and strengthen its operations in existing ones, facilitating more comprehensive and timely service delivery. Dr. Ojukwu noted that the expansion would not only help address human rights violations but would also foster greater trust and cooperation between the Commission and the public.
“The establishment of more state offices will bridge the gap between the Commission and communities that need our services the most,” Dr. Ojukwu said during his presentation. “This expansion will enable us to address human rights violations more effectively and foster greater trust and collaboration with the public.”
The NHRC has been grappling with an increasing number of complaints, with over 2 million cases reported annually. Investigating these cases is an expensive process, with an estimated cost of ₦8,000 per case. In order to manage the growing workload, Dr. Ojukwu highlighted the importance of expanding the Commission’s resources to ensure that each case can be investigated thoroughly and that justice can be delivered to those most in need. He stressed that while the current ₦8 billion proposal would significantly aid in the expansion of state offices, the Commission would need ₦19.55 billion to fully address the demands placed on it.
“The cost of investigating each case is approximately ₦8,000, and to investigate over 2 million complaints annually, the Commission would require ₦16 billion,” Dr. Ojukwu explained. “Expanding our resources will allow us to deliver justice to more Nigerians, especially in areas that have been historically underserved.”
The NHRC’s budget proposal for 2025 also aims to address a range of human rights challenges that continue to affect Nigerians, including terrorism, insurgency, communal conflicts, gender-based violence, child rights violations, and police brutality. The Commission’s expanded budget would allow it to increase its efforts in these critical areas, ensuring that individuals’ rights are better protected and upheld across the nation.
In addition to expanding the physical presence of the Commission through new state offices, the proposed budget would also fund initiatives aimed at improving the operational effectiveness of the NHRC, including better training for staff and enhanced technological tools to streamline operations. Dr. Ojukwu also emphasized that the additional funds would help the Commission navigate the rising costs of operations due to inflation, which has been a significant challenge in recent years.
Members of the Joint Committees on Human Rights, who attended the budget presentation, expressed their support for the NHRC’s initiatives and the importance of increasing its budget. They acknowledged the remarkable performance of the Commission in 2024, despite resource constraints, and recognized the vital role of expanding its state offices to strengthen its outreach.
The lawmakers agreed that the NHRC’s proposed budget, if approved, would be a significant step toward ensuring the protection of human rights for all Nigerians, especially those in marginalized and vulnerable communities. The expansion of state offices would increase access to the Commission’s services, ensuring that more people can report violations and seek justice.
If the ₦19.55 billion budget is approved, the NHRC will have the resources to tackle a range of pressing human rights issues, including systemic abuses, violations of civil liberties, and the protection of vulnerable groups. The proposal signals the Commission’s continued commitment to fulfilling its mandate to promote and protect human rights throughout Nigeria, contributing to a more just and equitable society.
Precise Post recalls that the NHRC’s proposed budget for 2025 reflects a forward-thinking strategy to enhance its outreach, improve access to justice, and tackle the growing human rights challenges facing Nigeria. As National Assembly sets January ending for 2025 budget passage, all eyes will be on lawmakers to determine whether the necessary funding will be allocated to allow the Commission to expand its work and serve the needs of Nigerians across the country.
