From Maduabauchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has rated Kano as human rights-friendly state under the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
NHRC called on other states to emulate the Kano example, as human rights protection and promotion are vital ingredients for sustainable democracy and development.
The assessment was made by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, when he led members of the NHRC Special Investigation Panel on Sexual and Gender Based Violence, to pay a courtesy call to Ganduje, at his office.
Ojukwu noted that, “while we appreciate what the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission is doing, we commend the governor of Kano state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for doing very well in human rights protection. The governor is doing extremely well in this all-important direction.”
According to him, the choice of Kano, for the sitting of the Special Investigation Panel of the Commission, was not by accident, pointing out that, “when we were discussing on which of the seven states in this North West geopolitical zone should host our sitting, we unanimously agreed to come to Kano and hold the sitting. Your Excellency the choice of Kano is appreciatively deliberate.”
In his remarks, Ganduje who credited the success the state recorded in the area of human rights protection to the state Anti-Corruption Commission, commended the untiring effort of the Commission, with specific commendation to the leadership of the Commission, under Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado.
He stated that, “while we appreciate his good work and that of his staff, we also give the Commission free hand to operate. It is as a result of this approach that a serving Commissioner then lost his job, as a result of investigation conducted by the Commission. So also some Permanent Secretaries, Directors among others also followed suit to lose their jobs due to Commission’s investigation.”
Ganduje said that of over 7,000 cases that were treated by the state Anti-Corruption Commission, over 30 percent of them were human rights related cases.
Ganduje disclosed how his administration’s effort in strengthening human rights related agency boosted the state image in the face of human rights protection and promotion.
According to him, “we have offices of the state Anti-Corruption body in all our 44 local governments. All the offices were built and none of the offices were rented, because we want to run away from any form of intimidation from landlords. And at the state office, we have equipped the office with modern communication gadgets for smooth operation of the office.
“Educating our children is another right that must be protected. That is why we said free and compulsory primary and secondary education. So denying children from going to school is another form of rights deprivation. I am therefore calling on the National Human Rights Commission to delve into this and see that the rights of our children are not tampered with.
“The state is taking stock of all out-of-school children. Once we have all the statistics then we swing into action. We have already notified parents and guardians that whoever hides his or her child from going to school that is an offense.
“And one must be brought to book. So we want NHRC to, in the spirit of human rights protection of our children in this context, to come and join hands with us. The rights of our children must be protected.”
