Commission commends Jonathan over rights bill law

The National Human Rights Commission has commended President Goodluck for signing its Amendment Bill 2010 into law.

A statement on Sunday by the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Mr. Roland Ewubare, said, “The passage of the bill will strengthen the operational efficiency of the commission and upgrade the status of Nigeria at the International Coordinating Committee of Human Rights Institutions.

He recalled that Nigeria was stripped of its voting rights and downgraded to “B” status at the ICC, three years ago, due to government’s excessive interference and lack of independence of the NHRC.

Under Section 4(2) of the old NHRC Act, the President had the power to remove members of the Governing Council, including the Executive Secretary, “if he is satisfied that it is not in the interest of the public that the member should remain in office”.

The new Act says that it “guarantees the independence of the Commission in the conduct of its affairs. This is particularly with respect to the appointment and removal of the Executive Secretary and its Governing Council”.