CISLAC seeks national policy on business, human rights

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has urged the government at all levels in the country to adopt adopts a National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights, to among others fulfil its duty under the national constitution and international obligations to promote and protect human rights in the country.

The Executive Director, CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, made the call on yesterday in Abuja at high level forum on sustainable business and human rights principles, organised by CISLAC, Open Society Foundation and Global Rights.

According to him, the project is aimed at stimulation and promotion of human rights agenda in Nigeria’s business sector through the collaborative platform of the standing National Roundtable on Business and Human Rights (NBH2R) and the promotion of a NAP for business and human rights as a fundamental element in government agenda and business strategies in the country.

He noted that some local and international business operators in part of the country faced abusive, violations by transactional corporation and business enterprises, saying there is an ongoing project draft to prevent, protect, investigate and redress the challenges through effective policies.

“In a society like Nigeria where you have several businesses both local and international operating in different parts of the country, protection against human rights abuses within the Nigerian territory by businesses is very important. It is expedient for the government to take appropriate steps to prevent, investigate, punish and redress such abuses through effective policies, legislation, regulations and adjudication.

“There is also a need, citizens across the country especially, within host communities such as mining communities as well as oil producing communities who seem to be affected the most to rise up and demand that government protects their rights and deal decisively on issues of human rights violations arising from activities of businesses operating within Nigeria,” Rafsanjani said.

He therefore charged the relevant stakeholders, NLC and CSOs to focus on ensuring that there is an implementation of a NAP plan on business and human rights in the country.

Also speaking, Deputy Director Legal, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mrs. Pwadumdi Okoh, who commends CISLAC for its efforts, assured that the commission is committed to partner to protect the business operators and their human rights.