Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights, Honourable Abiola Makinde, has said the newly passed National Human Rights Commission Act, 2026 (HB. 2376), recently approved by the green chamber of the National Assembly, will rewrite the trajectory of domestic security, justice, and civil liberties in Nigeria.
Makinde, who represents the Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, stated this shortly after Thursday’s plenary session.
He said: “For decades, human rights enforcement in Nigeria was constrained by statutory limitations. The National Human Rights Commission was often perceived as a reactive watchdog capable of documenting abuses but lacking the enforcement powers required to compel systemic compliance.
“As Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, I had the privilege of laying the committee’s report before the House and presenting the NHRC Bill. Following rigorous legislative scrutiny, public hearings, and inter-agency technical sessions, members voted overwhelmingly to pass HB. 2376, repealing the outdated 2004 and 2010 frameworks in favour of a modern, enforceable law.
“Moving beyond mere press releases, the NHRC gains enhanced statutory powers to investigate and enforce compliance by both state security forces and non-state actors. The Act also establishes the Human Rights Fund, introducing a sustainable funding structure designed to protect the Commission from political leverage through executive budget controls.
“The bill incorporates dedicated safeguards and establishes explicit legal protections for frontline activists and civil society actors facing harassment or retaliation,” he said.
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Makinde further stated that, in alignment with global treaties, the bill legalises a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) mandated to conduct unannounced inspections of prisons, police cells, and detention centres.
“In the spirit of global alignment, the reforms bring the NHRC in line with the United Nations Paris Principles, reinforcing Nigeria’s international standing and human rights accreditation,” he noted.
He added that the legislative momentum achieved by the 10th Assembly demonstrates a collective willingness among members to tackle structural reforms that previous assemblies routinely deferred. However, he noted that passage by the House of Representatives represents a critical milestone rather than the final destination.
He called on the Senate to pass the bill, followed by the required state Houses of Assembly approvals for constitutional alterations and final presidential assent.
“If enacted, these laws will stand as a testament to what can be achieved when legislative leadership and active member support align to anchor national security within a framework of legal accountability,” he concluded.