Reps Panel Applauds NHRC’s 2025 Performance, Signals Support for ₦20bn 2026 Budget

Reps Panel Applauds NHRC’s 2025 Performance, Signals Support for ₦20bn 2026 Budget

By: Michael Mike

The House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights has commended the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for what it described as a resilient and impactful performance in 2025, pledging legislative backing for the Commission’s proposed ₦20 billion budget for 2026.

The endorsement came during the Commission’s budget defence before the Committee, where lawmakers acknowledged the NHRC’s efforts to sustain its mandate despite financial constraints and mounting human rights concerns across the country.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Peter Abiola Makinde, praised the Commission for maintaining visibility, transparency and public accountability, particularly through its Human Rights Dashboard, which provides updates on complaints received and actions taken. He noted that at a time of increasing reports of violations affecting fundamental freedoms, the Commission has remained active and responsive.

Makinde stressed that the National Assembly has a constitutional responsibility to strengthen institutions that protect citizens’ rights, assuring the NHRC of continued collaboration and oversight support.

Presenting the Commission’s 2025 performance report, the Executive Secretary, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, revealed that the NHRC recorded more than 3.7 million complaints within the year. He attributed the high number to growing public awareness and confidence in the Commission as an accessible platform for redress.

According to Ojukwu, the surge in complaints highlights the urgent need to strengthen investigative capacity, improve complaint resolution mechanisms, and expand the Commission’s physical presence nationwide.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining institutional independence in line with the Paris Principles, which set global standards for national human rights bodies. To improve access to justice at the grassroots, he disclosed that eight new state offices have been constructed under his leadership, with plans underway to establish 20 additional offices in 2026.

The Executive Secretary also pointed to infrastructure challenges at the Commission’s headquarters, noting that staff numbers have tripled since 2007, making expansion and renovation imperative.

For the 2026 fiscal year, the NHRC is proposing a ₦20 billion budget. Of this amount, 33.67 percent is earmarked for personnel and overhead costs, while 66.33 percent is allocated to capital projects — a distribution Ojukwu said reflects a deliberate strategy to prioritize infrastructure, operational expansion and improved service delivery.

In response, members of the Committee indicated readiness to support the proposal, urging the Commission to build on its gains and intensify efforts to safeguard and promote human rights nationwide.

The Committee’s endorsement signals strengthened legislative confidence in the NHRC at a time when public demand for accountability and rights protection continues to grow.

Reps Panel Applauds NHRC’s 2025 Performance, Signals Support for ₦20bn 2026 Budget