Nigeria

Nigeria’s standing NMIRF was established in August 2024. It is an interministerial structure entitled “the National Working Group on Treaty Reporting” coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Justice. It includes various government departments. The mechanism is tasked with reporting, coordination, and follow-up on human rights obligations.

INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP Nigeria’s National Mechanism consists of different Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government. It is composed of the following:

• Federal Ministry of Justice
• Federal Ministry of Health
• Federal Ministry of Interior
• Federal Ministry of Women Affairs
• Federal Ministry of Education
• Federal Ministry of Labour
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Secretary to the Government of the Federation and National Security Adviser. There was also a proposal to co-opt The Refugee Commission and IDPs and Disabilities Commission. The National Human Rights Commission is also a member of the NMIRF.

Members are formally appointed by the Attorney General.

Secretariat There is no permanent secretariat yet, but efforts are underway.

Terms of Reference include coordination, reporting, follow-up, and advisory roles.

MANDATE

According to its terms of reference, the mandate of the National Working Group on Treaty reporting includes: i. Take proactive steps towards fulfilling national and international human rights obligations including those from UN Charter based bodies like the Human Rights Council; ii. Ensure timely preparation, submission and examination of required reports under each treaty by both UN and AU Treaty Bodies; iii. Ensure coordination and regular consultations among Ministries, Departments and Agencies; iv. Act as a constant guide and gauge on the human rights temperature of the country and advise Government on measures that will promote human rights; v. Ensure follow-up actions on concluding observations and recommendations of UN and AU Treaty Bodies; and; vi. Do or take all other actions as are deemed necessary to ensure that Nigeria’s human rights treaty obligations are carried out timely.

The NMIRF engages with UN Treaty Bodies, UPR, and regional mechanisms. Reports are prepared through the National Working Group or ad hoc committees. Inputs are collected via letters and meetings.

Ministerial departments and agencies (MDAs) and CSOs/private organizations gather every 6 months where the importance of data provision/collection is explained. As far as data is concerned, there are two types of data: 1. administrative data that is published regularly; 2 data collected through surveys on specific subject matters including human rights. The Government collaborates with the United Nations especially UNDP and the IMF in this regard. For example, surveys are conducted with support from the World Bank.

There are no Standing Operating Procedures or dedicated tools yet for information management.

Channel of communication with the National Statistics Office There is currently no official channel of communication with the National Statistics Office.

Channel of communication with Parliament The National Working Group on Treaty Reporting was engaged with Parliament towards the preparation of Nigeria’s 4th Cycle UPR process as representatives of the people whose human rights status is of interest.

Channel of communication with Judiciary The National Working Group on Treaty Reporting was engaged with the Judiciary towards the preparation of Nigeria’s 4th Cycle UPR process

Local and regional governments Federated states are not represented but are consulted via letters and regional meetings.

**Focal points established under article 33 paragraph 1 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities **

☒ No

**Focal points from Gender Equality Mechanisms **

☒ No

CONSULTATION The NMIRF interfaced with different NGOs towards the preparation of the 4th Cycle UPR process. This was through the six regional group and consultations, and subsequent validation.

The National Human Rights Institution (independent) has a National Action Plan. There is no dedicated tracking system put in place by the NMIRF yet. Institutional support and funding are needed.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the National Statistics Office and the National Human Rights Institution to help streamline human rights in data collection and production.