The NBA-HRI Strategic Plan

This strategic plan is designed to address the challenges currently being faced by the NBA–HRI and chart the course which the organization is expected to run within the next three years in the achievement of its objectives. The idea behind the plan is to schematize and calendarize the Institute’s activities so that its programmes are well structured in such a manner as to outlive the recurrent political cycle of the NBA. It is essentially for the purpose of ensuring continuity.

The issues recognized by the Institute as deserving of attention, for which this document lays a strategic foundation are categorized into five thematic areas as follows:

1. Constituency Building
2. Research and Advocacy
3. Training and Development
4. Conferencing and Awards
5. Legal Assistance

Constituency Building and Management

The NBA–HRI has a massive membership base of lawyers and even HRI desk officers in the 120 branches chaired by the Vice Chairman of the branch, but this workforce and structure in the branches are not effective because the Institute lacks the parameters to manage its members. There is also no effective communication channel between members and the Institute. This, in turn, affects the effectiveness of the Institute. To curb this challenge, it is proposed in the action plan that we:

a. Create an interactive website.
b. Establish an electronic newsletter.
c. Support NBA human rights Committees in their programmes.
d. Support NBA Pro bono programmes and Initiatives.
e. Develop and build a network of stakeholders and partners.
f. Attend African Commission meetings on human rights.
g. Collaborate with national, regional, and international human rights organizations.
h. Partner with local and international development partners.
i. Collaborate with Civil Society Organizations.
j. Partner with the Public and Private Sectors.
k. Improve on Reporting, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement.

Research and Advocacy

The NBA–HRI is a massive initiative but there is little or no publicity about the Institute’s activities. The impact it has made so far overwhelmingly outweighs its posture. The Institute therefore will embark on a sensitization campaign to create awareness on its programmes and also influence legal reforms and governmental policies. To achieve this, we will embark on the following:

a. Production of Annual Human Rights Report.
b. Advocacy on institutional and law reform.
c. Advocacy for the implementation of the Child Rights Act.
d. Advocacy for the implementation of the National Action Plan on Human Rights.
e. Legislative advocacy to ensure that legislations comply with principles of human rights.
f.  Advocacy to ensure the implementation of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Training and Development

The Institute provides technical development programmes and resource development frameworks for the Bar. These programmes are driven by way of training and workshops.

a. Develop NBA-HRI Strategic Plan
b. Training on the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules.
c. Training of lawyers on the use of African regional mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights.
d. Partnership with various schools by providing training on human rights education.
e. Training security and law enforcement agencies on human rights and rule of law.
f. Training collaboration with selected Nigerian Universities on human rights protection and enforcement.
g. Training of lawyers and judges in collaboration with the NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education, NBA-ICLE, on Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules and other mechanisms for enforcement of fundamental rights.
h. To advocate for good governance and accountability in public service.
i. Provide training and advisory services to Private Sector companies and organizations on human rights in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
j. Advocacy for the implementation of the National Action plan on human rights.

Conferencing and Awards

a. Planning and organizing the Annual Human Rights Conference
b. Annual Human Rights Award.

Legal Assistance

This is a centralized information desk situated at the Secretariat which will collate complaints bordering on human rights violations, from which the complaints will be transferred from the branch of complaints with a directive for necessary action.

a. Develop a legal assistance programme.
b. Undertake programmes that will sustain the Institute’s Strategic Plan.
c. Create and manage grievance mechanisms, handling public complaints on human rights violations, and challenges.
d. Implement and operationalize the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the NBA and various organizations and agencies, including the Legal Aid Council.
e. Develop and implement NBA Pro bono programmes and projects.
f. Monitoring and auditing of detention and correctional centers across Nigeria.
g. Provide risk assessment and human rights due diligence.
h. Pre-trial justice
i. Public Interest Litigation and Advocacy.