- Commission trains 37 state coordinators, warns against regulations that undermine fundamental freedoms
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has commenced the nationwide rollout of its Advisory Opinion on Promoting and Protecting Civic Space, launching a capacity-building programme for its 37 state coordinators and focal officers to strengthen the protection of fundamental freedoms across Nigeria.
The initiative, organised in partnership with the Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO), began with a one-day train-the-trainer workshop in Abuja designed to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills required to disseminate the advisory, address civic space violations and engage relevant stakeholders at the state level.
Declaring the workshop open, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, said the protection of civic space had become a central responsibility of democratic governments and national human rights institutions.
Ojukwu observed that civic space in Nigeria had faced persistent challenges across different political eras, from colonial rule and military dictatorship to the current multiparty democratic system.
“Civic space in Nigeria has historically been challenged from colonial rule to military dictatorship and even now in our multi-party democracy,” he said.
He disclosed that, in furtherance of the advisory, the commission and NNNGO had established the National Working Group on Civic Space and Human Rights to serve as an independent platform for promoting and defending civic freedoms.
The NHRC chief stressed that government regulations should facilitate citizens’ participation in public affairs rather than restrict their fundamental rights.
“At its core, the State exists to serve the people. Regulations should enhance civic space, not erode it,” Ojukwu said.
He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to supporting the working group in becoming a strong and independent platform for protecting civic freedoms and promoting respect for human rights throughout the country.
In a goodwill message, the Country Director of Heinrich Böll Stiftung Nigeria, Ms. Sophie von Knebel, described the workshop as a critical step towards translating the advisory from policy recommendations into practical action across the federation.
She commended the partnership between the NHRC and NNNGO in developing the framework, noting that civil society organisations continued to face regulatory obstacles and alleged human rights violations despite progress in democratic governance.
Von Knebel said the challenges were particularly evident at the subnational level, underscoring the need to strengthen awareness, institutional capacity and engagement with state authorities.
She expressed confidence that the nationwide rollout would help improve understanding of civic freedoms and promote more consistent protection of the rights of civil society organisations and citizens.
Also speaking, the representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Ms. Esther Sawa, said an open and free civic space remained a key indicator of a vibrant democracy.
Sawa commended the NHRC and NNNGO for developing the advisory, expressing optimism that its implementation would strengthen human rights protection and the rule of law in Nigeria.
She emphasised the importance of protecting the environment in which citizens, civil society organisations and other stakeholders could express opinions, organise peacefully and participate in public affairs.
Earlier, the Executive Director of NNNGO, Mr. Oyebisi Oluseyi, said the workshop was designed to prepare the state coordinators to replicate the training and disseminate the advisory across their respective states.
He explained that participants would examine the concept and state of civic space in Nigeria, the provisions of the advisory and the human rights implications of restrictions on civic freedoms.
The programme also included a planning session on effective methods for cascading the advisory to state-level stakeholders, ensuring that the document would inform practical engagement and institutional responses beyond the national workshop.
The advisory is expected to provide guidance for governments, security agencies and regulatory institutions on protecting the freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression in line with Nigeria’s constitutional provisions and international human rights standards.
The nationwide rollout comes amid continuing concerns about the operating environment for civil society organisations and the need to ensure that regulations are consistent with fundamental rights and democratic principles.
Through the initiative, the NHRC and its partners aim to strengthen state-level capacity to identify and address civic space violations, improve stakeholder engagement and promote accountability in the protection of civil liberties.
The success of the exercise will depend on how effectively the advisory is implemented by relevant institutions and translated into stronger safeguards for citizens, civil society organisations and other actors participating in Nigeria’s democratic process.
