The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the National Assembly to approve a significant increase in its budget allocation for 2025 to address pressing human rights challenges in Nigeria. The Commission recently revealed that it handles over two million complaints of rights violations annually. Stakeholders in the human rights sector have long observed that the NHRC’s budgetary allocations are insufficient to effectively manage this high volume of complaints, many of which require extensive investigation.
The need for adequate funding for the NHRC was emphasized during the Commission’s 2024 budget defense and the presentation of its 2025 budget proposal before the Joint Committees on Human Rights of the Senate and House of Representatives. The session was chaired by Senator Adegbomire Adeniyi, SAN, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, alongside Peter Makinde, Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights. During this meeting, the NHRC outlined the necessity for enhanced funding to effectively tackle its growing responsibilities.
Dr. Tony Ojukwu, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, highlighted the challenges the Commission faces in managing over two million complaints each year. He noted that while the NHRC’s budget of N5 billion for 2024 achieved an impressive implementation rate of 99.999 percent—allowing for the completion of eight new state offices—the allocation remains inadequate to meet the increasing demand for human rights services. Ojukwu stated, “The sheer volume of complaints—over 2 million annually—is overwhelming.” He further explained that investigating a single case costs approximately N8,000,000, and to manage this caseload effectively, the Commission would require a minimum of N16 billion annually, which is far beyond the current allocation.
In response to these challenges, the NHRC has proposed a budget of N8 billion for 2025, representing a 60 percent increase from the previous year. However, Ojukwu appealed to lawmakers for further consideration, proposing an upward revision to N19.55 billion. He argued that this adjustment is critical for enhancing the Commission’s capacity to address emerging human rights issues, such as terrorism, communal conflicts, insurgency, natural disasters, and inflation-induced operational costs. Ojukwu emphasized that additional funding would also allow the Commission to establish more offices across the country, thereby ensuring broader access to its services.
“This proposed budget reflects our commitment to a more inclusive and just society,” Ojukwu stated. “It will strengthen our ability to respond swiftly to human rights violations and enhance community engagement to promote awareness and accountability.” Lawmakers commended the NHRC for its strategic focus and dedication to its mandate. While some members sought clarifications on specific aspects of the proposal, the Executive Secretary addressed their concerns comprehensively.
If approved, the proposed increase would represent a significant step toward addressing persistent human rights challenges in Nigeria, including gender-based violence, child rights violations, police brutality, the operations of the National Preventive Mechanism, and the conduct of public inquiries into human rights abuses. The National Assembly is expected to conclude its deliberations on the budget proposal in the coming weeks, with hopes that the NHRC’s call for enhanced funding will be met to bolster its capacity to serve Nigeria’s growing human rights needs.
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