NHRC Urges Legislatures to Make Human Rights Impact Assessment Mandatory in Lawmaking
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on Nigeria’s legislative institutions to institutionalise Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) in the lawmaking process, warning that
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged Nigeria's legislative bodies to make Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) mandatory in the lawmaking process. Executive Secretary Tony Ojukwu emphasized that legislation without sufficient scrutiny, consultation, and rights analysis could undermine fundamental freedoms and erode public confidence in democratic institutions.
The NHRC organized a training for legislators in Port Harcourt to mainstream human rights into the legislative process and ensure compliance with constitutional, regional, and international human rights standards. Ojukwu warned that every piece of legislation has the potential to expand or restrict rights, and stressed that laws directly shape citizens' access to essential services and civic participation.
He highlighted the importance of public hearings, committee scrutiny, evidence-based deliberation, and meaningful public consultation in identifying potential human rights risks before a law is enacted. HRIA should be seen as a practical decision-making mechanism to improve the quality, legitimacy, and sustainability of legislation, rather than an additional bureaucratic hurdle.
The NHRC Executive Secretary challenged lawmakers to create laws that are just, inclusive, evidence-based, and rights-compliant, ultimately testing legislation's impact on citizens.
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