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Motion Group on Free Civic House represents a unfastened community of organizations, scholar unions, social actions and lively residents throughout Nigeria, engaged on totally different thematic points, however dedicated
to making sure that authorities regulation within the identify of nationwide safety doesn’t shrink the civic house in Nigeria.
In a press assertion issued and collectively signed by:
Emmanuel Acha: Youth Discussion board for Social Change
FyneFace Dumnamene Fyneface: Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre
Obioma Agoziem: Centre for Corrections and Human Growth
Victoria Ibezim Ohaeri: SPACES FOR CHANGE
Okechukwu Nwanguma: Rule of Regulation and Accountability Advocacy Centre, the said that Nationwide and Worldwide Regulation Prohibits Governments and Regulation Enforcement Brokers from Utilizing COVID-19 as an Excuse to Derogate from the Proper to Life.
The Motion Group on Free Civic House is deeply involved concerning the rising information of human rights abuses of residents by legislation enforcement brokers accountable for guaranteeing compliance with COVID-19 lockdown and stay-at-home directives throughout numerous states in Nigeria.
Substantiated media experiences are replete with tales of shootings, police/navy brutality, destruction of cooked meals and different mandatory wares, bodily assaults, and so forth.
With the way in which COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the world, we acknowledge that these are usually not regular occasions.
We notably commend the efforts of the Nigerian authorities and related stakeholders doubling as much as comprise additional unfold of the pandemic. Whereas we acknowledge the necessity to undertake stringent measures the place mandatory, we, nonetheless, should warning that COVID-19 containment measures applied throughout
states emphasize respect for the rights to life and human dignity assured underneath the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Solely yesterday, trigger-happy troopers allegedly gunned down one Mr. Joseph Pessu in an unlucky
present of drive to take care of COVID-19 lockdown in Delta State. Per week in the past, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State ordered safety operatives to shoot-at-sight, any person who tries to flee from quarantine and
isolation facilities within the state. Equally in Rivers State, hasty lockdown directives just like the shutdown of markets and companies with out palliatives to help residents’ welfare, have precipitated unavoidable
conditions which have seen the state’s taskforce in a bid to implement lockdown directives, ill-treat some residents caught exterior their houses attempting to supply meals and provisions for survival. Elsewhere like Lagos and Abuja, eyewitness experiences and video proof have continued to emerge, displaying safety
forces openly utilizing horsewhips and weapons to implement self-discipline and compliance with lockdown directives. In gentle of the above worrying developments, it has grow to be crucial to remind the Nigerian
authorities that emergency conditions and related containment measures should align with the nation’s nationwide, regional and worldwide human rights obligations.
Part 33 and 34 of the 1999 Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, ensures life
and human dignity, for all residents. The sanctity and inviolability of the rights to life and human dignity are additional protected underneath Article 4 of the African Constitution on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Likewise, Article
4(2) of the Worldwide Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) additionally reiterates that sure rights
similar to the appropriate to life, freedom from merciless, inhumane remedy and punishments are non-derogable and can’t be suspended even in a state of emergency. As these provisions clarify, nationwide and
worldwide legislation prohibit governments and legislation enforcement brokers from utilizing COVID-19 as an excuse to derogate from the appropriate to life.
Moreover, we make daring to state that Nigerians on low-incomes have been worse hit by the shutdown measures.
Hundreds of thousands of residents residing in casual communities, additionally known as slums, have little or no entry to correct sanitation, clear water, qualitative healthcare, electrical energy, meals, shelter, and so forth. Solely residents with a roof above their heads can adjust to the federal government’s stay-at-home directive. Closed companies not solely imply lack of earnings for enterprises but additionally weaken the survivability of the self-employed and poor
ACTION GROUP ON FREE CIVIC SPACE
Majority of the folks working within the casual sector, relying on their every day earnings for sustenance. With out every day earnings, they’re unable to fill up meals provides wanted to maintain a lockdown.
Accordingly, the federal government should rise to its accountability of offering ample aid packages for these households in need. Intervention schemes and financial stimulus packages introduced by each the
Federal and State governments needs to be backed by efficient distribution machineries to make sure that aid gadgets attain these in crucial want of meals and medical provides, particularly in city slums and rural areas.
The much-publicized billions obtained as donations from philanthropists and company our bodies supporting the struggle in opposition to coronavirus, must also be deployed to help these in want. To fill the reported gaps in distribution, we advise the Federal authorities, to as a matter of urgency, represent an inclusive physique of aid managers throughout the 36 states and the FCT. The aid managers
needs to be duly chosen from commerce unions, civil society our bodies, the non-public sector, community-based organisations, pro-people associations, and related authorities our bodies. This democratic physique of
managers is not going to solely develop a clearcut technique for distribution of stimulus packages to all Nigerians however
additionally report every day to residents the expenditure accounts of how aid funds and gadgets had been distributed pretty, equitably, well timed and transparently. The Motion Group on Free Civic House makes the next calls for on the Nigerian authorities, to:
– Formally name off Governor Umanyi of Ebonyi State’s shoot-at-sight order, and order the Inspector Normal of Police and his males to discountenance the directive.
– Undertake humane, responsive and legally-binding measures to implement public security orders and proper members of the general public who defy lockdown directives. – Examine the killing of Mr. Pessu in Delta State, and for all different erring legislation enforcement officers to be dropped at e book.
– Sensitise legislation enforcers on rights-respecting strategies of finishing up their duties, together with setting
up complaints’ desks and hotlines for members of the general public to report incidences of abuses.
– Lastly, we implore Nigerians to remain robust in these difficult occasions and undergo all public well being directives and pointers meant for the general public well being and wellbeing of Nigerians.
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Source by Emmanuel Udom
