President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm 15 nominees for appointment to the governing board of the National Human Rights Commission, in a move aimed at reconstituting the commission’s leadership and strengthening Nigeria’s institutional capacity for the promotion and protection of human rights at a moment of heightened public attention to accountability.
The request was conveyed in a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio read during plenary, with Dr. Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman proposed as board chairman and Dr. Anthony Ojukwu as Executive Secretary.
The remaining 13 nominees were drawn from diverse professional backgrounds spanning the media and legal sectors. Among them were journalists Ayo Adewuyi of the Nigerian Television Authority and Maupe Ogun of Channels Television, as well as legal practitioner Chinonye Obiaku.
Tinubu said the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission Establishment Act 2010, which empowered him to constitute the board subject to Senate confirmation. He explained that reconstituting the board was necessary to enhance the commission’s institutional capacity and enable it to more effectively discharge its mandate across the country.
The Senate referred the nominations to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and report within two weeks. If confirmed, the new board will be expected to play a significant institutional role at a time of heightened public concern over rights protection and government accountability in Nigeria.
