Nigeria at 64: HRPC Charges Govt. to make People's Oriented Policies

A human organization known as Human Rights Protection Congress aka as Citizens'Rights Concern Enhancement Initiative has charged government at all levels to make policies and that direct bearing on the life of the people. The organization disclosed this as it marked its 2nd Annual Congress Dialogue Day to commemorate 64th years anniversary of Nigeria Independence  held on Wednesday, at Jubilee Conference Centre, Old Enerhen Road, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State. Speaking at the ceremony, 
 the Chairman of Board of Trustee, Citizens' Rights Concern Enhancement Initiative otherwise known as Human Protection Congress, Amb.(Comrade) Edewor Egedegbe said the government should put into consideration the needs of the people when making policies and programmes to enable the people enjoy  material resources  given by God in the country. He said by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)  section 14 of the constitution states that:

"The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a state based on the principles of democracy and social justice, it is hereby, accordingly declared that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom Government through its constitution"

Amb. (Comrade) Egedegbe  said it is obvious that Nigerians are hungry due to the  way Nation's resources are  harnessed but do  not have direct  impact on the lives of the people, this action, he said,  has caused imbalance in the  promotion and  economic development of  the country.

He said the organization's fighting  for the good of the people is not   against  the Government or its institution adding that,  mission and vision is to collaborate with  and engage the Government's institution to enhance and promote the dignity of every Nigerian citizen as contained in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said:" The vision of the organization is to see that every citizen of Nigeria rights  and privileges are respected irrespective of tribe, religion, colour among others while the vision is to enhance citizens' capacity through  training/public enlightenment campaign, dialogue and work with other stakeholders' to ensure probity and accoutability in governance and  society.

According to him, if the organization as it were, discovers that   the policies of government  are not in  favour of the people, it  engages  the  Government and so that it  can do the  needful as it is  the voices of the voiceless especially now that there is high cost of living that is biting hard on the citizens coupled with corruption in high places. 

Amb. Comrade Egedegbe  said the organization works in conjunction with Value Rebirth and Empowement Initiative and Shamar Educational Foundation adding that, before  and after the organization's registration, it has carried out different humanitarian activities in society in general in the bid to achieve its  aims and objectives. He said for the avoidance of doubt, it has  embarked on several interactions  advocacy visits among which is the   visit of  the  Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Director General of Security, Delta State among others -all in the bid  to enhance security of lives and property and foster enduring peace in the state in  particular and  Nigeria in general.

His words:" Members of HRPC also paid advocacy visit to the Director, Legal Services of Delta State House of Assembly in order to familiarise with the laws of Delta State and how these laws enacted can be enforced for the betterment of citizens".

Amb. (Comrade) called on the Judiciary, since  it is the hope of common man to urgently revamp the system for Nigerians to have  real independence and sued for the Judiciary to be independent as that is only way to disperse justice better adding that, the Judiciary would do better if it is free from the influence of Executive by having its budget, appointment of Judge by itself , among others.

He also charged the citizens to play their roles as enshrined in the constitution, live a right and carry out their roles as enshrined in the constitution. He thanked  to His Lordship,Hon.Justice A.O Akpobi, Judge of State High Court 2, Warri, the  Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta State, the Commissioner of Police and  the entire guests for attending the programme.

Speaking on the theme of the programme, titled:" Nigeria at 64,. Delayed Justice in Nigerian Judicial System: What can be done differently? " His Lordship, Hon.Justice A.O.Akpovi, Judge of the State High court, 2, Warri, explained  some of the reasons  justice is delayed in the Nigerian system saying some of them include: frequent adjournments of cases, delay in Police'  investigations into cases, lack  of finance among others  and  called  for overhaul  of the entire process to speed up cases to get justice as quickly as possible.  He therefore  charged  citizens to play their roles to ensure that justice is  not delayed.

The climax of ceremony was constitution of panel of discussants on  the theme and questions  and answers from the participants and the panelists respectively.