NHRC Nigeria

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nigeria was established in 1995 by the NHRC Act, with an amendment in 2010 to strengthen its mandate. Accredited with an A status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), the NHRC is an independent body dedicated to promoting, protecting, and enforcing human rights in Nigeria. The Commission was created in response to the United Nations’ call for member states to establish national institutions for human rights protection, and it serves as an extra-judicial mechanism for advancing human rights in Nigeria. The NHRC’s core mandate includes monitoring and investigating human rights violations, supporting victims in seeking redress, and ensuring that Nigerian laws comply with national and international human rights standards. The Commission also works to raise public awareness through publications, reports, and advocacy initiatives. It focuses on various thematic areas including women's rights, child rights, labour rights, freedom of expression, the right to health, education, environmental rights, and the rights of vulnerable groups amongst others. Led by the Executive Secretary Anthony Okechukwu Ojukwu OFR, SAN, Ficmc, the NHRC has a Governing Council and operates across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.