FG Unveils NHRC–Police Liaison Framework to Tackle Rights Violations, Strengthen Accountability

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government on Wednesday launched a new institutional framework aimed at strengthening collaboration between the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), describing it as a major step towards addressing human rights violations, improving police accountability and rebuilding public confidence in law enforcement.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who inaugurated the NHRC–NPF Liaison Framework at the headquarters of the National Human Rights Commission in Abuja, said the initiative would institutionalise cooperation between both agencies to ensure more effective protection of citizens’ rights and improve the administration of justice.

Fagbemi acknowledged that despite the police and the NHRC being established to safeguard citizens’ rights, a significant number of complaints received by the commission still emanate from alleged abuses by law enforcement agencies.

According to him, government has a constitutional and international obligation under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to provide effective remedies for victims of human rights violations, making closer collaboration between the two institutions imperative.

“Effective policing and respect for human rights are mutually reinforcing objectives that strengthen public confidence, improve cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, and contribute to the overall effectiveness of the criminal justice system,” he stated.

The Attorney-General described the liaison framework as a practical mechanism that would enable the NHRC and the police to improve communication, facilitate prompt handling of complaints, strengthen oversight of police detention facilities, ensure greater compliance with human rights standards and jointly address systemic challenges affecting justice delivery.

He stressed that sustainable reforms in the criminal justice sector could only be achieved through institutional partnerships rather than isolated interventions.

The Attorney-General noted that the framework introduces designated focal officers at national and operational levels, transforming previous informal engagements into a structured and enduring institutional relationship.

He said the initiative also places emphasis on preventing rights violations through continuous dialogue, training, institutional cooperation and preventive oversight rather than merely responding after abuses occur.

Fagbemi highlighted ongoing reforms undertaken by the Federal Government to modernise Nigeria’s justice system, citing the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, and the Police Act, 2020 as legislative milestones designed to strengthen accountability and ensure respect for constitutional rights.

He added that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had continued to deepen justice sector reforms by improving judicial infrastructure, appointing judges to fill vacancies and significantly enhancing the welfare and remuneration of judicial officers.

The minister also linked the government’s broader security reforms to improved human rights protection, disclosing that President Tinubu had approved a salary increase of between 30 and 80 per cent for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces as part of efforts to boost professionalism, morale and operational effectiveness.

According to him, stronger welfare for security personnel complements efforts to build institutions that uphold accountability, human dignity and the rule of law.

He assured that the Federal Ministry of Justice would continue to support initiatives promoting cooperation among law enforcement agencies, oversight institutions, prosecutors, the judiciary, legal aid organisations and civil society.

Fagbemi, however, cautioned that the success of the framework would depend not on its inauguration but on faithful implementation by designated officers and participating institutions.

He urged all stakeholders to ensure regular communication, diligent monitoring and sustained collaboration to achieve measurable improvements in policing and human rights protection.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, described the inauguration as the beginning of a new phase of institutional partnership between two critical national institutions charged with safeguarding the rights, dignity and security of Nigerians.

Ojukwu said the framework was the culmination of sustained engagement between the Commission and the Nigeria Police Force, tracing its origins to a high-level working visit convened by the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee on June 16, 2025, and reinforced through subsequent consultations between the Commission and police leadership.

According to him, both institutions had consistently reaffirmed that protecting human rights and maintaining public safety are complementary responsibilities requiring robust collaboration rather than isolated action.

He commended the Inspector-General of Police for approving the reactivation of the NHRC–NPF Liaison Framework and for supporting the establishment of national coordination structures that would deepen cooperation between the two institutions.

Ojukwu also praised the Deputy Inspector-General of Police and other senior officers for their commitment to translating the initiative into an operational framework through extensive consultations with the Commission.

He explained that the framework was designed to move beyond dialogue to practical implementation by strengthening institutional accountability, promoting respect for human rights, ensuring compliance with the Constitution and criminal justice laws, improving professionalism in policing, enhancing public confidence in law enforcement and deepening strategic collaboration between the NHRC and the police.

According to him, the partnership will establish structured communication channels, improve complaint resolution mechanisms, strengthen detention monitoring, build the capacity of officers and develop coordinated responses to emerging human rights challenges across the country.

“Our shared objective is clear—to ensure that policing activities across Nigeria consistently uphold the rule of law, professionalism and respect for the dignity of every person,” he said.

Ojukwu reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to working closely with the Nigeria Police Force and other justice sector institutions to ensure the effective implementation of the framework, expressing confidence that the partnership would significantly strengthen accountability, improve human rights compliance and enhance public trust in law enforcement.

The Attorney-General expressed optimism that the NHRC–NPF Liaison Framework would strengthen human rights-compliant policing, improve detention oversight, enhance accountability, expand access to justice and reinforce public trust in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

He congratulated the leadership of both the National Human Rights Commission and the Nigeria Police Force for initiating what he described as a landmark partnership and urged all participating institutions to remain committed to its successful implementation in the interest of justice, the rule of law and the protection of the rights and freedoms of all Nigerians.

FG Unveils NHRC–Police Liaison Framework to Tackle Rights Violations, Strengthen Accountability