German Catholic Bishops Urge Nigerians To Stop Human Rights Violations

• Misereor DPS in Nigeria calls for collective efforts to protect human rights, emphasizing their importance for unity and national development
• The organization launches two volumes of books aimed at improving human rights promotion and social justice advocacy in Nigeria

Misereor Dialogue and Partnership Service (DPS) in Nigeria, a German Catholic Bishops Conference Organization for Development Cooperation, has urged Nigerians to protect fundamental human rights to foster unity and national development.

They called on Tuesday in Abuja at the formal launch of the Misereor DPS in Nigeria’s ‘Improving Human Rights Promotion in Nigeria -A Reader for Practitioners’ books in two volumes of 74 and 100 pages, respectively.

At the event, Rev. Fr. Zacharia Samjumi, Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), said pursuing justice and upholding human rights is a noble cause.

In addition, Rev. Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina, Executive Secretary of Caritas Nigeria, represented by Joseph Nkamuke, stated that civil society organizations in Nigeria play an important role in advocating for human rights and promoting social justice.

He stated that Nigeria is confronted with numerous challenges, including issues of free expression, press freedom, and gender equality, to name a few.

Ms Julia Krojer, the Head of Misereor DPS in Nigeria, stated that the publications were practical guides for individuals and groups involved in human rights activism in Nigeria.

We Receive Over 2m Complaints, Petitions Annually – NHRC Boss

According to Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the commission receives over two million complaints and petitions from Nigerians annually.

Ojukwu said during a press conference in Abuja that the commission would need more than N10 million to investigate all of the complaints, making it difficult for the commission to afford it.

According to him, the commission receives N4.5 billion in annual budget allocation. It is expected to carry out all of its activities, such as rent payment for its state offices, salaries, and complaint investigations, among other responsibilities.

He stated that the commission was on its way to opening ten more offices in various states across the country, which is why the office in Lagos State was only N5 million.