Abimbola Akosile
11 November 2008
Lagos — The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), has been called upon to put pressure on the Nigerian government to end the suffering of millions of citizens who continue to live in almost absolute poverty and deprivation; and to comply fully with its international human rights obligations.
The call was made by the Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP), which insisted that Nigeria's compliance with the call would ensure full enjoyment of basic economic, social and cultural rights guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, to which the country is a state party.
The African Commission is meeting in Abuja from November 10 to 24 for its 44th Ordinary Session. The session is expected to attract participation from government representatives, foreign missions, inter-government organisations and non-governmental human rights organisations (NGOs).
In a statement signed by SERAP's Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said the return of democracy in 1999 was seen as major landmark and opportunity for the restoration of justice, accountability, transparency and enjoyment of human rights, especially basic economic and social rights, of the Nigerian people.
"However, democratic governance has neither resulted in reduction of political corruption nor an improved enjoyment of basic economic, social and cultural rights by the majority of Nigerians", Mumuni said.
The organisation also lamented that citizens' expectations of enjoyment of basic necessities of life under a democratic dispensation have dimmed, "as the nation's wealth and resources that should be available to meet those needs are plundered, almost daily, by the country's political leaders".
"The result has been massive and direct denial of the right to work, and the right to an adequate standard of living, including the rights to food, housing, health and education".
"Yet, Nigeria has ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which obligate the government to implement economic, social and cultural rights of Nigerians", Mumuni noted.
According to SERAP, "although full realisation of economic, social and cultural rights may be achieved progressively, successive Nigerian governments to date have failed to take steps towards that goal, several years after Nigeria voluntarily committed itself to both the ICESCR and the African Charter".
"The failure to take deliberate, concrete and targeted steps to implement basic economic, social and cultural rights has continued to precipitate poverty, deprivation and inequality in the country".
"Millions of Nigerians continue to be deprived of essential foodstuffs, primary health care, basic shelter and housing, and the most basic forms of education. At the same time, the government has failed to report regularly to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on how the government is implementing these human rights."
The organisation therefore urged the African Commission to adopt a resolution condemning continuing denial and violations of internationally recognised economic, social and cultural rights in Nigeria.
It was also enjoined to ask the Nigerian government to recognise and guarantee economic, social, cultural rights constitutionally and through appropriate legislative and administrative provisions, as enforceable human rights.
The Commission was asked to reaffirming that economic, social and cultural rights are universal human rights, and that the Nigerian government has a responsibility to guarantee these rights.
It was also implored to ask the Nigerian government to make primary and secondary education free and compulsory; and to encourage national courts to apply directly economic, social and cultural rights and to cooperate actively in the effective enforcement of these rights in the country.
The Session would discuss issues such as: economic, social and cultural rights, the human rights of women, the death penalty, the situation of human rights in The Gambia, and the rights of human rights defenders.
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