The House of Representatives has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening human rights protection in Nigeria, pledging to pass the long-anticipated Human Rights Defenders Bill.

This promise came during an oversight visit to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Abuja, where the Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, Abiola Makinde, represented by his Deputy, Mudashiru Lukeman, assured the Commission of unwavering legislative support.

Makinde criticised the N5 billion allocated to the NHRC in the 2024 budget as inadequate to address the widespread human rights violations in the country.

He pledged that the Committee would advocate for a significant increase in the 2025 budget to enable the Commission to carry out its mandate effectively.

The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, praised the lawmakers for their proactive engagement, particularly their role in amending the NHRC Act 2010.

He commended former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila for facilitating compensation payments to victims of police brutality during the SARS era.

Ojukwu also highlighted the Commission’s pivotal role in addressing human rights violations during counter-insurgency operations in the North East, a move that prevented the International Criminal Court (ICC) from initiating investigations against Nigeria.

He said the visit underscored the lawmakers’ resolve to ensure that the NHRC is equipped with the resources and legislative backing to uphold its mandate.