Human rights are inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or other status. Aptly, the theme for International Human Rights Day 2024, which is being marked on 10 December, is “Our rights, our future right now”. This points to the fact that human rights are what everybody should have here and now and should not be delayed for a minute.
The UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, published in 1948, outlines the basic rights of all human beings in 30 articles. Article one states, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
Article 3 says everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security. According to Article 5, no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
The question now is, after 25 years of the Fourth Republic, is the Nigerian state closer to protecting the rights of citizens as enunciated in the UDHR?
Currently, the country faces an excruciating economic crisis that makes it impossible for millions of citizens to afford decent living while good and affordable healthcare is hard to come by, which is in direct contravention of Article 25.
Many Nigerians are denied the right to quality food and shelter. The government needs to move closer to achieving these inalienable rights.
Cases of extrajudicial killings still abound. Police and military officials have been accused of killing unarmed protesters several times, including during the 2024 hunger and 2020 #EndSARS protests.
Many children, especially in the North, are denied their right to education.
A couple was manhandled in Abuja in November for an alleged traffic offence by a military team while a House of Representatives member allegedly assaulted an Uber driver, even threatening to put him in jail.
Some state governments have not implemented the new minimum wage law agreed to start in July. This is unfair.
Torture is still said to be employed in Nigeria to extract information from detainees while accused persons are kept in sordid conditions during detention.
In September, the UN drew the attention of the Nigerian government to the need for urgent measures to end torture and ill-treatment of people in detention.
The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, which visited Nigeria to assess the treatment of individuals in detention, and whether the country had strengthened its capacity to protect the human rights of people deprived of liberty, said: “The situation in most places of detention is abysmal. Nigeria must urgently take measures to prevent torture and ill-treatment and to improve conditions of detention, especially in police stations and other similar facilities. Legal safeguards must be immediately implemented, and the current impunity of perpetrators for acts of torture must end.”
It is commendable that Lagos State has the Office of the Public Defender, which takes up cases of the less privileged who are wronged or abused. This is pragmatic in a country where many people cannot afford legal fees. Every state should have such an office.
Lawyers should take up human rights violation cases pro bono, to defend the weak against the powerful. This will promote access to justice.
Schools should teach pupils early enough about their rights as citizens while Nigerians should be made aware of their rights through public enlightenment campaigns. The National Orientation Agency, and civil society organisations should intervene in this regard.
The police, Armed Forces and other paramilitary groups should be enlightened about respecting the rights of all Nigerians while discharging their duties.
