By Stella Odueme
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu SAN has said that despite progress recorded over the years on addressing human rights violations, gaps in enforcement, limited access to justice for victim, weak corporate accountability and systematic corruption have continued to hinder it’s efforts to fully advance rights in the business sector of the economy.
The Executive Secretary spoke on Wednesday during the High Level Stakeholders forum on business and human rights in commemoration of the 2024 Day with the theme; “Stakeholders Perspectives on Advancing Business and Human Rights in Nigeria: A Pathway to Justice and Accountability” where he noted that instances of environmental degradation, labour exploitation, forced evictions and other human rights violations are still linked to corporate activities in the country.
“To overcome these obstacle, we must bolster endorsement mechanisms, strengthen our judicial system to ensure a justice and foster robust partnerships between the public and private sectors to promote transparency and accountability,’ he stated.
He outlined some steps taken by NHRC as; establishment of the national action plan on business and human rights which outlined strategies for implementing the UNGPs; strengthening legal frameworks to address critical issues such as environmental protectio, labour rights and corporate governance; growing awareness among businesses of the importance of integrating environmental, social governance criteria into their operations; establishment of working groups in two states to enhance local implementation and monitoring of human rights policies as well as collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to develop their human rights policy, ensuring responsible business practices in the extractive sector.
‘Today, we deliver into the critical intersection of business, human rights and sustainable development exploring how we can forge a path toward justice and accountability. Let us use this for to commit to concrete actions that transform challenges into opportunities.
“As we commemorate the 2024 International Human Rights Day, let us reaffirm our collective dedication to advancing human rights in all spheres, with particular focus on the business sector,” he enjoined.
In her welcome remarks, the Chairperson of the Governing Council of the NHRC, Dr. Salamatu Suleima stressed that the forum served as a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange and collaboration among key stakeholders, including government representatives, business leaders, civil society organizations and human rights advocates.
“As the policy arm if the NHRC, we are aware of the evolving landscape of business and human rights. We recognize the need for comprehensive policies and frameworks that guide businesses towards integrating human rights into their operations.
“It is our collective responsibility create an enabling environment that encourage businesses to adopt responsible practice, conduct due diligence and mitigate any adverse impacts on human rights,’ Dr Suleiman who was represented by Me. Femi Okeowo stated.
The President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief Emeka Obegolu noted that his group believes the private sector, particularly organized businesses, must take the lead in this effort to uphold human rights.
He however said that to achieve meaningful progress, the chamber requires
collaboration and support from all stakeholders, governments, civil societies, organizations,
and development partners.
‘In partnership with the National Human Rights Commission, NCCI has established the African
Continental Center for Business and Human Rights. This center serves as a platform to
coordinate and streamline effort rights principles into business
practices across Africa. Two, development of business and human rights guidelines.”
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, HE Mohammed Fall who was represented by Adwoa Kufour commended NHRC for it’s efforts in promoting human rights in the business sector.
