SERAP Seeks Establishment of Legal Framework for Human Rights
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Federal Government to review laws like the Official Secrets Act, Criminal Code Act and Cybercrime Act for potential free speech and press restrictions and amend the laws in line with international human rights.
The group also called for strengthening the independence of regulatory bodies like the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) to ensure impartial regulation and promote self-regulation within the media. It argued that the recent decision of the Federal High Court on the powers of the NBC is a step in the right direction.
This was disclosed by Dr Bunmi Afinowi of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG), during the SERAP report titled, ‘State of Civic Space in Nigeria’ at a forum in Ikeja.
While commending the government for the steps taken so far, Afinowi stated that the government should encourage diverse representation in the NBC and NPC, including journalist unions, civil society, and academia.
Afinowi said, “The judiciary has a role to play in this regard by ensuring that it upholds the rule of law and safeguards fundamental human rights as recognised and enshrined in the Constitution.
“Bodies like the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, and relevant civil society must ensure prompt and thorough investigations into the attacks on journalists and hold perpetrators accountable.”
Afinowi advocated for professional bodies and civil society to encourage coalitions and ensure adequate funding, capacity building, and technical support for civil society organisations working on media freedom and human rights issues.
Afinowi added that the federal and state governments should tolerate criticisms and perceived critical views expressed by Nigerians.
SERAP further asked the attorney general of the federation (AGF) to push for the immediate amendment of the Cybercrimes Act and other repressive legislation and bring the laws in line with the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and international human rights obligations, including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a party.
Other stakeholders called for protecting civic space, which was regarded as a special prerequisite for increasing growth, good governance, the rule of law, and sustainable development.
In his remarks, Simon Shingu, who represented the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said that promoting and protecting civic space were regarded as special prerequisites for increasing growth, good governance, the rule of law and sustainable development.
Shingu said civil space was seen as a core open democracy. Noted that citizens and CSOs can meet, advocate, organise and exercise their fundamental civil rights when civic space is protected.
“As we gather here today, we are reminded of the fundamental principles of our democracy, which are freedom of association, assembly and expression,” said Shingu.
Akin Rotimi Jnr, the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs chairman, said no amount of introspection on the civil space would be too much or too little.
Rotimi said civil society could be improved in numerous ways, citing inclusivity and diversity in broader society.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Funmi Falana, SAN, who represented her husband, Mr. Femi Falani, SAN, said, “Democracy is not just about voting but also entails the right of the people to determine how they are to be governed as provided by the law.”
Falana said the law also allowed people to express their minds when they were not being properly governed without fear of being detained, harassed, or subjected to any restrictions.
She listed all laws and conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory and which recognized freedom of expression and assembly. Falana lamented that despite these laws and conventions, people are still being harassed while police detain journalists indiscriminately.
