NHRC Reviews Strategic Plan, Targets Improved Human Rights Protection
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering better protection for Nigerians by undertaking a comprehensive mid-term review of its 2024–2027 Strategic Plan.
The review, held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, brought together management and key officials to evaluate progress, identify challenges and develop practical strategies to improve the Commission’s effectiveness.
Speaking during the exercise, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, described the review as more than a routine administrative exercise, stressing that it was an opportunity to critically assess the Commission’s performance and ensure its programmes continue to make a meaningful impact on the lives of Nigerians.
According to Ojukwu, the Commission is determined to move beyond merely meeting targets and instead focus on achieving measurable improvements in human rights protection.
“We are not here simply to tick boxes. We are here to improve lives,” he said, while encouraging participants to openly identify weaknesses and propose practical solutions that would strengthen the Commission’s work.
He emphasized that honest self-evaluation is essential to building a more responsive and effective institution capable of protecting the rights of all Nigerians.
Presenting the Mid-Term Review Report, Miss Ateda Thomas disclosed that the assessment evaluated the Commission’s performance using 160 indicators. The exercise covered activities from 36 state offices and 10 headquarters departments, with more than 86,000 performance records examined, making it one of the NHRC’s most comprehensive internal assessments.
The report revealed strong performance in human rights education and awareness campaigns, as well as in the protection of vulnerable persons, indicating increased efforts to educate citizens about their rights while providing greater support for those most in need.
However, the review also highlighted several operational challenges, including inadequate documentation, inconsistent reporting across departments, insufficient supporting evidence for some activities, limited resources and gaps in staff capacity.
Participants recommended improved staff training, simplified reporting procedures, stronger data verification mechanisms, enhanced interdepartmental collaboration and a stronger culture of documentation to improve efficiency and accountability.
The Planning Team noted that every conclusion contained in the report was based on evidence submitted by the respective departments and carefully verified throughout the review process.
The assessment further recommended updating aspects of the current Strategic Plan to reflect emerging realities and ensure that future implementation delivers greater impact.
The Commission maintained that the Strategic Plan serves as a practical roadmap for strengthening access to justice, protecting vulnerable groups and ensuring that citizens receive timely support whenever their rights are threatened.
The NHRC concluded that continuous self-assessment, transparency and evidence-based planning remain critical to improving human rights protection and delivering meaningful results for Nigerians.
