Reps Back N20bn Rights Commission’s Budget, Hail Performance In 2025

The House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights has applauded the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) 2025 performance and approved its N20 billion budget proposal to expand rights protection and access to justice in Nigeria.

The chairman of the committee, Hon. Peter Abiola Makinde, gave the commendation during the commission’s 2025 budget defence and presentation of its 2026 appropriation proposal.

He described the NHRC’s performance as commendable, noting that the commission delivered measurable results despite fiscal limitations and a challenging human rights environment marked by concerns over religious freedom and other fundamental rights.

Makinde particularly praised the commission’s commitment to transparency and public engagement, highlighting its Human Rights Dashboard, which provides regular updates on complaints and interventions. He reaffirmed the Green Chamber’s readiness to collaborate with and strengthen institutions responsible for safeguarding citizens’ rights.

Presenting the NHRC’s report, its executive secretary, Dr Tony Ojukwu (SAN), attributed the achievements to sustained legislative support, which enabled the implementation of key programmes and interventions in 2025.

Ojukwu said the commission handled over 3.7 million complaints in 2025, a development he said reflected growing public confidence in the institution and an increasing demand for human rights protection.

He noted that the surge in complaints underscored the need for enhanced funding to strengthen investigation, complaint resolution and redress mechanisms.

The executive secretary stressed the importance of maintaining institutional independence in line with the Paris Principles, which require national human rights institutions to operate autonomously.

He revealed that the commission established eight new state offices since his assumption of office to improve grassroots access to justice, with plans to construct an additional 24 offices in 2026.

Ojukwu stressed the urgent need to expand and renovate the commission’s headquarters, noting that staff strength had tripled since 2007.

For the 2026 fiscal year, the NHRC proposed a ₦20 billion budget, allocating 33.67 per cent to personnel and overhead costs and 66.33 per cent to capital projects, signalling a strong focus on infrastructure development, operational growth and improved service delivery.

In its response, the lawmakers assured the commission of their support for the proposed budget and urged the NHRC to sustain its momentum and deepen efforts to promote and protect human rights nationwide.