The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters has cleared the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Vanguard Editor, Eze Anaba, alongside 15 other nominees for appointment to the governing board of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The screening exercise was conducted by the committee chaired by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, as part of the legislative process for reconstituting the commission’s governing board following President Bola Tinubu’s request for Senate confirmation.
The committee is expected to submit its report to the Senate for consideration at plenary, where the lawmakers will make a final decision on the nominations.
Speaking with journalists after the screening, Anaba said his nomination would provide an opportunity to continue his longstanding commitment to human rights protection, which he described as an integral part of his journalism career.
He expressed confidence that his professional experience and diverse background would contribute to strengthening the commission’s capacity to promote and protect the rights of Nigerians.
However, Anaba cautioned against assuming that the appointment process had been concluded, noting that the Senate still had to make its final decision.
“We’ve just been screened. We’ve just been confirmed. So don’t let us jump the gun. That’s number one,” he said.
The NGE president added that his experience in journalism had consistently exposed him to issues concerning fundamental human rights and freedoms.
“I’ve done this human rights thing all my life. It has gone together with my journalism job. So it’s going to be a continuation of what I’ve been doing,” he said.
Anaba also disclosed that he had been involved in the activities of the NHRC before his nomination, expressing optimism that the incoming board’s range of professional expertise would improve the commission’s performance.
Earlier, Adegbonmire said the committee had concluded the screening and would present its recommendations to the Senate for consideration.
He explained that the Senate would communicate its decision to the President through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation after deliberating on the report.
Adegbonmire further clarified that the NHRC governing board comprises 16 members, including representatives of the Federal Ministries of Justice, Interior and Foreign Affairs.
According to him, the representatives of the three ministries were not individually screened because the law specifies the offices or ranks to be represented rather than the names of particular nominees.