Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has described Federal Government’s proposed N25,000 palliative for Nigerians as a “misplaced priority.”

It argued that the amount is not any way commensurable to the prevailing suffering in the land.

Addressing the organisation’s biennial conference in Ilorin, Kwara State, the outgone president, Dr Osagie Obayuwana, who said Nigerians deserved a system that bequeaths on citizens basic amenities that develop their psyche and ignite their patriotism, added: “Erratic electricity supply, lack of accommodation, poor healthcare service and general breakdown of life-enhancing facilities can never be remedied by palliative.”

Obayuwana, like other speakers, recalled the life and leadership style of Pa Michael Imoudu as former labour leader, whom they described as “a tactician and politician with pure uniqueness.”

He said: “Pa Michael Imoudu was not just a labour leader but had silent links with politicians. Even while in prison, he was able to organise a damning labour protest that grounded the counter, using even warders meant to guide him to reach the outside targets.”

The don relived series of problems confronting Nigerians, including basic amenities and gross abuse of human rights.

He explained that the pay rise that was tactless, recalling: “Imoudu was always agitating and seeking pay rise tied to existing inflation rate for workers.

“We have resolved that our rights are non-negotiable. We want a new Nigeria of which its resources would be used for the generality of all Nigerians.”

Contributing, Director General of Michael Imoudu Labour Institute, Issa Aremu, disclosed that plans were underway to include human rights studies in the agency’s curriculum essentially for workers to know past heroes and their contributions to national development.

We shall partner CDHR on this project so that the fundamental issues of rights will be useful for organised labour,” he promised.

The State Director, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA,) Gloria Okodua, called for more women participation in human rights activism, urging the group to sharpen its sensitisation, especially at the grassroots, to win more activists.