Nigeria @66: NHRC, RULAAC, CISLAC insist reforms must translate into better lives, rights

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) have maintained that Nigeria’s economic reforms must translate into better living conditions, stronger protection of rights and greater security for citizens.

The trio made the call in separate messages to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary, shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday.

They stressed that the success of the country’s reforms should ultimately be judged by their effect on ordinary Nigerians.

They organisations therefore linked economic progress to the welfare and dignity of citizens, arguing that improvements in economic indicators would mean little if Nigerians continued to struggle with basic needs, insecurity and inadequate protection of their rights.

They also connected development with accountable governance, the rule of law and institutions that protect citizens. However, their messages differed in emphasis.

NHRC focused broadly on rights-based development and equal access to justice, while RULAAC reviewed President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day address to raise specific concerns about the economy, security, governance and the 2027 elections.

CISLAC focused on impunity, stronger democratic institutions, civic freedoms and the need for democracy to deliver tangible benefits to citizens.

Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule on 1 October 1960 and became a republic three years later in 1963.

The 1960 Constitution Order in Council formally established Nigeria as an independent and sovereign nation. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa became Prime Minister, while Nnamdi Azikiwe served as Governor-General under a federal parliamentary system.

Sixty-six years on, the promise of independence remains tied to security, opportunity, dignity and a better life for Nigerians.

In his Independence Day address, President Tinubu also linked prosperity to the lived experience of Nigerians. He noted that when he spoke of prosperity, he did not “speak merely of a larger economy, abstract numbers or better statistics”, but meant “something much more personal”.

He also pointed to Nigeria where farmers can cultivate their land safely, young people can find productive work, and “food and transportation are affordable”. President Tinubu declared that the country was moving “from reform to prosperity”.

Reforms must protect dignity

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, in reaction to President Tinubu’s Independence Day address, RULAAC acknowledged the administration’s references to economic growth, lower inflation, increased foreign reserves, greater stability in the foreign-exchange market and higher non-oil exports.

According to Mr Nwanguma, the measure of economic success cannot be statistics alone, but must be reflected in “the food on Nigerian families’ tables, electricity in their homes, quality education for their children and security in their communities.”

He maintained that food, transportation, housing, healthcare and education remained difficult for many households to afford, while inflation had reduced the purchasing power of wages.

RULAAC, therefore, urged the government to provide transparent accounts of savings and additional revenues generated by the reforms, as well as show how such resources were being invested in social protection, healthcare, education, public transportation, employment and infrastructure.

Mr Nwanguma added that citizens could not continually be asked to make sacrifices while governments at all levels appeared insufficiently committed to reducing “waste, ostentation and the cost of governance.”

RULAAC also criticised the limited attention to insecurity in President Tinubu’s address, citing terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other forms of criminality as continuing threats to lives, livelihoods and economic activity.

It argued that farmers could not contribute to food security if they could not safely access their farms, while businesses could not thrive where kidnapping and violent crime imposed additional costs on economic activity.

But the organisation said security should not be limited to protection from criminal groups, as Nigerians must also be protected from unlawful conduct by state agents.

Mr Nwanguma disclosed that RULAAC continued to receive and document allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and other ill-treatment, prolonged detention, extortion and unlawful seizure of property by law-enforcement personnel.

It therefore called for police reform, accountability for misconduct, effective civilian oversight and full implementation of safeguards contained in the Police Act 2020 and other applicable laws.

RULAAC also called for greater transparency in public expenditure, stronger anti-corruption institutions and judicial independence, alongside protection for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Mr Nwanguma stressed the need to protect journalists, human-rights defenders and civil society organisations.

The organisation maintained that “the rule of law cannot be selectively applied”, arguing that political officeholders, security officials and politically connected persons should be subject to the same laws as ordinary citizens.

RULAAC raised concerns about political intimidation and violence and It called for security-agency neutrality, protection for journalists and election observers, respect for INEC’s independence and enforcement against vote-buying.

Rights must remain at centre of reforms

In its Independence Day message, signed by its Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, the NHRC maintained that the success of Nigeria’s reforms must ultimately be measured by their impact on citizens’ lives, rights and dignity.

Reflecting on the national theme, “From Reforms to Stability: Consolidating Nigeria’s Renewed Hope for Shared Prosperity”, the commission’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), stressed that economic growth would only be sustainable if its benefits reached a broad section of the population.

He maintained that vulnerable and disadvantaged Nigerians must not bear a disproportionate share of the hardship associated with the reforms.

“The success of reforms must ultimately be measured by their impact on the lives, rights and dignity of ordinary Nigerians,” Mr Ojukwu pointed out.

The NHRC therefore called on governments at all levels to strengthen social protection, expand access to basic services and ensure that economic policies comply with Nigeria’s constitutional and international human-rights obligations.

Mr Ojukwu also commended Nigerians for their resilience in the face of the country’s social, economic and political challenges.

But he urged security and law enforcement agencies to combine their responsibility to protect national security with respect for fundamental rights.

“National security must go hand in hand with the protection of fundamental rights,” Mr Ojukwu stated and also called for stronger adherence to the rule of law, an independent and effective justice system and meaningful access to justice, particularly for poor and vulnerable citizens.

He specifically identified persons with disabilities, women, children, internally displaced persons and other disadvantaged groups as people who require greater protection.

The NHRC urged public institutions to improve public trust through transparency, accountability and responsive governance.

Mr Ojukwu also recognised the role of civil society organisations, the media and human-rights defenders in strengthening democracy and protecting fundamental freedoms, stressing that an open civic space remained important to sustainable national development.

He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to working with government institutions, security agencies, civil society, the media, development partners and citizens to strengthen accountability and protect human rights.

Mr Ojukwu stressed that the transition from reforms to lasting stability required more than economic transformation.

It also required a Nigeria where every citizen enjoys equal protection of the law, access to justice, dignity and the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the nation’s development.

‘Democracy that genuinely delivers for the people’

For CISLAC, Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary should go beyond a ceremonial celebration and provide an opportunity to examine whether democracy is improving the lives of citizens.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Auwal ‘Rafsanjani’ Musa, CISLACthe Nigeria chapter of the organisation explained that democracy should mean more than elections and changes in political leadership.

Mr Rafsanjani also argued that it must also deliver accountable leadership, strong institutions, security, justice, dignity and economic opportunities for citizens.

He raised a particular concern about the shrinking civic space, citing the recent arrest and remand of five men in Maiduguri, Borno State, over allegations linked to the printing and wearing of T-shirts bearing the words “Tinubu Must Go.”

PREMIUM TIMES reported on Friday that five men were charged in Borno after police arrested them over T-shirts bearing “Tinubu Must Go.”

The five men – Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed – faced allegations including criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbing public peace and thuggery.

CISLAC argued in the independence statement that prosecuting citizens over peaceful political expression raised concerns about freedom of expression and the protection of civic space.

“A democracy that criminalises peaceful dissent and treats political slogans as threats to public order is a democracy weakened from within,” noted Mr Rafsanjani.

The organisation mentioned its plans to strengthen collaboration with Amnesty International and other human-rights organisations to document cases involving political and public officials accused of undermining civic freedoms, suppressing legitimate political expression or frustrating citizens’ rights.

It maintained that public office should be treated as a public trust rather than a means of personal enrichment, patronage or abuse of power.

It called on the National Assembly to strengthen its oversight functions and urged anti-corruption agencies to operate without political interference.

It also called for the judiciary, law-enforcement agencies and regulatory institutions to remain independent, professional and accountable.

According to CISLAC, corruption, insecurity and injustice remain major threats to democratic stability, as corruption deprives citizens of public services, while impunity weakens confidence in public institutions.

The organisation also linked the quality of democracy to citizens’ economic circumstances, pointing to the number of Nigerian children out of school and the continued departure of young and skilled Nigerians in search of better economic opportunities and living conditions.

“Growth without inclusion is not prosperity, and democracy without economic dignity will continue to lose the confidence of citizens,” it said.

It elaborated that terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and abuses by security institutions undermine Nigerians’ right to live without fear, calling for accountability, human-rights protection, conflict prevention and access to justice.

It said independence should mean food, decent jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, social protection and opportunities for young people and businesses, while citizens must freely question authorities.

Ahead of 2027, CISLAC called for electoral integrity, stronger internal party democracy, consequences for electoral offences and an open civic space. “