INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ DAY 2026: NHRC DEMANDS URGENT ACTION AS FUEL HIKE, RISING COSTS DEEPEN HARDSHIP FOR NIGERIAN WORKERS
@NLCHeadquarters@asuunews#Workersday
NHRC Advocates for Public Health Approach to Drug Laws, Convenes Community Engagement on Human Rights
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has announced the convening of a strategic three-day Community Engagement Workshop focused on Drug Law Reform, Human Rights and Public Health, taking place this week in Edo State.
Organized in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) under the Global Fund Grant Cycle 7 (GC7), the intervention forms a critical component of Nigeria’s broader national response to reduce human rights-related barriers to HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) services.
Currently, the enforcement framework governing drug control in Nigeria frequently brings Persons Who Use Drugs (PWUD) into conflict with the criminal justice system. This criminalization drives vulnerable populations underground, fuelling stigma, exposing them to human rights abuses, and severely limiting their access to life-saving HIV and TB healthcare.
Speaking on the initiative, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, stated: “Drug dependence is fundamentally a public health issue, not merely a criminal one. When our laws fail to clearly distinguish between a person struggling with substance use and a drug trafficker, we leave room for arbitrary enforcement and the violation of fundamental human rights. The NHRC is committed to ensuring that our legal frameworks stretch out a hand of care and rehabilitation to vulnerable populations, rather than pushing them further into the shadows.”
A key focus of the three-day engagement is to support evidence-based policy reform, particularly the introduction of Threshold-Based Drug Scheduling to the NDLEA Act. This reform seeks to create a clear, statutory distinction between drug possession for personal use and drug trafficking, ensuring a proportionate, rights-respecting approach to drug control.
The workshop brings together approximately 45 participants, including representatives of PWUD networks, civil society organizations, human rights defenders, and relevant institutional stakeholders.
In strict recognition of the intersecting vulnerabilities affecting women, the NHRC has mandated a minimum of 40% female participation, incorporating dedicated safe-space sessions designed to capture the specific human rights violations and advocacy priorities of women who use drugs.
The methodology of the engagement is trauma-informed, consent-based, and strictly non-attributive, ensuring the utmost safety, dignity, and confidentiality of all participants.
Outputs from this engagement will directly feed into ongoing national policy discussions with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Federal Ministry of Health, and the National Assembly, as part of a broader effort to advance humane and evidence-based drug policy reform in Nigeria.
The NHRC calls on stakeholders across government, civil society, development partners, and the media to support constructive engagement towards a more inclusive and public health-oriented justice framework.
#GlobalFunds #GC7 #HIVTB #PWUD #NDLEA
Today at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), we take a bold step in strengthening accountability and responsive governance.
We are unveiling the Q1 2026 Human Rights Dashboard & Observatory (January–March)—a comprehensive, data-driven insight into human rights trends across the country.
By consolidating data from the first quarter, this dashboard provides a clearer, more strategic lens for understanding patterns, identifying gaps, and driving timely interventions that protect the most vulnerable.
In parallel, we are hosting a Stakeholders’ Validation Meeting on the Reviewed Complaint Handling Manual—a critical process aimed at refining and standardizing how complaints are received, managed, and resolved. This ensures greater transparency, efficiency, and trust in our systems.
With key stakeholders gathered, today’s engagement underscores a unified commitment to strengthening access to justice and enhancing the credibility of human rights protection mechanisms in Nigeria.
From insight to action, from systems to impact—we are building a more responsive NHRC for all. #NHRC #HumanRights #Q12026 #Accountability #AccessToJustice #DataDriven #StakeholderEngagement
NHRC REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO PROTECT VULNERABLE GROUPS, UNVEILS FEBRUARY AND MARCH DATA DASHBOARD ON FDPs
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting and protecting vulnerable groups across Nigeria, ensuring that their situations are properly documented, analysed, and addressed in line with evolving human rights realities.
Dr. Ojukwu, who was represented by the Director of Legal Services and Enforcement, Mrs. Rabi Anwal, made this known during the presentation of the February and March 2026 Human Rights Dashboard, developed to track issues affecting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, asylum seekers, and returnees in nine project states.
He described the dashboard as a significant milestone in the Commission’s efforts to strengthen data-driven responses to human rights concerns. According to him, the platform is designed to enhance documentation, analysis, and response to the changing protection environment affecting displaced and vulnerable populations.
The NHRC boss noted that data generated over the two reporting months indicates a persistent and growing protection crisis, highlighting the need for sustained attention and strategic intervention by relevant stakeholders.
He stressed that the Commission will continue to highlight developments within the protection space to ensure timely and effective responses.
Dr. Ojukwu also commended the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (@unhcrnigeria) for its continued technical and financial support and further praised human rights monitors and Community Action Group members for their dedication and courage, noting that their contributions are critical to the credibility and success of the dashboard initiative.
In his remarks, Assistant Registration and Identity Managment Officer, Owoche Igwue, lauded the NHRC for the initiative, describing it as a vital tool for enhancing evidence-based decision-making, accountability, and coordination among stakeholders.
He emphasised that reliable data is essential for effective protection, as it enables stakeholders to better understand needs, design targeted interventions, and ensure that the rights of displaced populations are not overlooked.
He also highlighted the importance of responsible data management, stressing that all information must be handled with strict adherence to confidentiality and protection protocols.
Mr. Igwue reaffirmed UNHRC's commitment to supporting efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s protection systems and advancing durable solutions for displaced persons across the country.
@unhcrnigeria@NhrcNigeria@fmha_pa
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