A National Address on October 1st, 2025
Fellow Nigerians, as we mark our nation’s Independence Day, the Nigerian Bar Association Human Rights Institute (NBA-HRI) delivers an audit of the fundamental freedoms upon which our Republic was founded.
The vision of the NBA-HRI under the proactive leadership of Afam Osigwe, SAN, President, Nigerian Bar Association is clear: A society where Human Rights are promoted and protected, and the independence of the legal profession is guaranteed. This vision mandates us to look beyond mere commemoration and to confront the gap between our Constitutional Promise and our National Reality.
Independence is not a celebration of simply trading colonial masters for local administrators; it is the perpetual defense of the citizen’s inherent dignity.
On this day, we declare that Nigeria is labouring under a decade of debt, a profound, lingering debt owed to the Nigerian people for unfulfilled rights and compromised justice.
THE FOUR PILLARS OF THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Our analysis and everyday findings and experiences reveals that the core pillars of a just society are still dangerously unstable:
1. The Debt of Dignity: Bridging the Socio-Economic Rights Divide.
The Constitution guarantees the right to human dignity (Section 34) and makes the security and welfare of the people the primary purpose of government (Section 14(2)(b)). Yet, for the majority, the economic hardship and insecurity are not just policy failures, they are gross human rights violations. When a citizen cannot access basic healthcare, education, or safe food, their independence is merely theoretical. We call for an immediate legal and policy framework to make the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy justiciable, converting declarations of intent into enforceable rights.
2. The Debt of Due Process: A Broken Justice System.
The culture of Impunity and Arbitrary Force by state actors is the greatest threat to our Republic. We note the persistent failure to uphold the sanctity of the law, evidenced by:
Arbitrary Detention: The practice of holding citizens without charge or beyond constitutional time limits is an absolute assault on liberty. The Anti-Torture Act (2017) and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) must be enforced with zero tolerance for non-compliance.
Lack of Accountability: Investigations into extra-judicial killings and the use of excessive force, including those linked to public assemblies, must be swift, public, and result in immediate prosecution.
3. The Debt of Truth: Threats to Civic Space.
True democracy demands that the governed speak truth to power. We condemn the increasing sophistication of techniques used to muzzle freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The State must guarantee the right to peaceful protest as the oxygen of a functioning democracy. Attempts to use overly broad laws or disproportionate force to silence dissent is a retreat from the tenets of independence.
4. The Debt of Transparency: The Cancer of Corruption.
Corruption is not just a financial crime; it is a catastrophic human rights violation that diverts resources meant for hospitals, schools, and security, directly leading to death, poverty, and insecurity. The NBA-HRI demands unwavering commitment to asset recovery, .transparent governance, and the strengthening of institutions that fight financial crimes.
OUR CALL TO THE NATION:
On this day of national reflection, under a vision driven leadership of Afam Osigwe, SAN, President, Nigerian Bar Association, we issue a clear mandate: Redeem the Debt of Freedom.
The NBA-HRI, commits to utilizing its full legal machinery, from pro bono centers to legislative advocacy, to challenge every instance where a citizen’s fundamental rights are undermined.
We call upon the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary to cease the rhetoric and begin the work of reconciliation with the people.
We urge every Nigerian lawyer, every journalist, and every citizen to join the NBA-HRI in this continuous, necessary struggle to make our independence truly mean ‘Justice and Dignity for All’.
The time for mere promises is over. The time to guarantee human rights is now.
Signed:
By: Sabastine Anyia, Esq.
1st Vice President & Chairman NBA-HRI
For: The Nigerian Bar Association.
