The National Human Rights Commission has urged ministries, departments and agencies to take ownership of the National Action Programme for Human Rights, 2024-2028.

The executive secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu, made the call at a two-day training workshop for MDA desk officers on Monday in Lokoja.

Represented by the Kogi coordinator of NHRC, Abdul Oyedokun, Mr Ojukwu said the programme’s success depended on the commitment and ownership of government institutions.

He said the NAP was not NHRC’s responsibility alone but a national implementation framework requiring participation from every MDA.

According to him, every MDA is a human rights institution because its policies, programmes, budgets and daily operations could either protect rights or contribute to violations.

Mr Ojukwu urged MDAs to integrate a human rights-based approach into planning, policy formulation, budgeting, legislation, service delivery, monitoring and evaluation. He said the NAP provided an opportunity for Nigeria to move from commitments and policies to practical implementation, measurable results and institutional accountability.

“Human rights are interconnected with virtually every aspect of governance and development,” Mr Ojukwu said.

He added that the rights to education, healthcare, food, housing, work, security, equality, justice and a clean environment were not abstract principles.

Mr Ojukwu urged MDAs to protect vulnerable groups, monitor progress and ensure access to justice and remedies. He restated that while NHRC would provide coordination and oversight, implementation remained the responsibility of individual institutions.

Speaking on the training, Mr Oyedokun said it brought federal and state MDAs together to strengthen their capacity to report human rights issues and identify challenges in NAP implementation. He said the exercise was designed to translate human rights promises into practical actions that would improve the lives of ordinary citizens.

He said participating officers should serve as resident human rights officers within their MDAs by identifying gaps, documenting progress and ensuring institutional responsibilities were implemented from a human rights perspective.

Mr Oyedokun cited education as an example, saying officers should document gaps in access to education, classrooms, teachers and provisions for children and out-of-school children.

(NAN)