The Federal Government on Wednesday charged Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government and other stakeholders to key into their respective roles in the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) on human rights.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Services Commission (NPSC) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) have pledged to stop the parading of criminal suspects.

Speaking at an inter-agency consultative workshop on the implementation of NAP, NHRC Executive Secretary, Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN), emphasised that the initiative aims to bridge gaps in human rights enforcement, aligning with both national and international standards.

“We are going to commence a campaign against the parade of suspects soon,” he stated, noting that the framework serves as a roadmap for improving human rights compliance in Nigeria.

The workshop, which brought together stakeholders from various sectors, was designed to clarify the implementation structure of the NAP and define the responsibilities of each institution.

The Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, Mudashiru Lukman, representing his chairman, Abiola Peter Makandi, expressed appreciation to foreign partners supporting Nigeria’s human rights development.

“We must stand against unfairness and call for collective improvement to ensure justice and respect for all,” he said.

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), DIG Hashimu Argungu, reiterated the commission’s stance against human rights violations, particularly the public display of suspects.

“Parading suspects is against the law. We must campaign against this,” he asserted. Argungu also touched indirectly on the encouragement of corruption by the judiciary, questioning how officials, especially civil servants, could afford expensive properties in highbrow areas like Maitama, Abuja, to act as sureties.

The Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Dr. Clement Nwankwo, commended the efforts of the National Assembly’s Human Rights Committee in advancing human rights.

He noted that while amendments are being proposed to criminal laws, some police officers still use arms seizures as a pretext for parading suspects. “Democracy is about human rights, but the power to remove elected leaders arbitrarily is not. When President Tinubu or any authority removes an elected leader, we must stand up to condemn it,” he declared.

Senior Human Rights Adviser to the NHRC, Hilary Ogbonna, in his presentation on the NAP, emphasised the need for effective legal reforms to enhance human rights in Nigeria.

He argued that national progress in global affairs requires structured coordination, stressing that “you cannot achieve the right to life when hospitals lack essential medicines.”

He further underscored the need for strong partnerships, political will, and institutional coordination to drive the implementation of the action plan.

The Deputy British High Commissioner, Gill Lever, praised Nigeria’s commitment to human rights, stating that effective implementation of the NAP would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

“We are ready to collaborate with Nigeria to implement the plan. Human rights should not be aspirational; leaders must be held accountable,” the envoy remarked, adding that human rights remain the cornerstone of every progressive society.

The workshop reinforced the government’s commitment to institutionalising human rights reforms, with stakeholders agreeing on the urgent need for practical measures to safeguard fundamental freedoms and dignity in Nigeria.

The workshop was organised by NHRC in partnership with the Policy and Advocacy Centre and UK International Development.