NHRC governing board: HURIWA blasts Buhari over delay, appointment of politician

 

The Human Right Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA has tackled President Muhammadu Buhari over the delay in appointing the governing board for the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC for over five years.

Recall that the president, on Tuesday approved the appointment of former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Salamatu Suleiman, as chairman of the NHRC.

President Buhari also appointed 14 other members of the board of the NHRC.

 

Reacting in a statement issued by its national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said it was disappointed that it took the president five years to make the appointments since the tenure of the previous board elapsed.

HURIWA accused the president of being “lawless” which according to the group is the only reason he was reluctant about the appointments.

According to the statement, HURIWA lamented that the rights of Nigerians are not being prioritised, adding that it was wrong for such an important commission to have been abandoned for years.

HURIWA also blamed the leadership of the National Assembly for not questioning president Buhari over the delay.

Reacting to the calibre of the new appointees, HURIWA said the commission has been ‘polluted’ adding that it was unjust for a politician to chair the NHRC, pointing to the fact that the primary function of the commission is to protect the right of the citizens.

“What is the essence of appointing a politician (former minister) as the Chairman of the Commission? This is an unmitigated sacrilege.

“It is a fact that some of the persons picked as members of the board are people of high reputation and integrity, but most of the persons lack Human Rights background, zeal, passion, commitments and will learn on the job, but time is not on our hands given the quantum of horrendous human rights violations under this government.

“Since 70% of the governing council of the Commission lack Human Rights background, so how will they speak out against the infractions of the fundamental Human Rights of the Nigerians citizens by the government?

“We are in a quandary as far as protection and PROMOTION of human rights are concerned with this bunch of mostly O-YES men picked for the most critical job as governors of the National Human Rights Commission,” HURIWA added.