By Sunday John
Lafia – .The National Human Rights Commissioner (NHRC) on Thursday sought the collaboration of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in its fight against human right violation in Nasarawa State.
The State Coordinator of NHRC, Mr Chia Shaku, called for the collaboration, when he visited NAN office in Lafia, Nasarawa capital.
Shaku said that one of the commission’s core mandate was to sensitise the public on how to seek redress should any of their rights was being violated.
“The commission can best perform this function only when we work in partnership with the media.
“So, we will always reach out to you and other practising journalists in the state to educate the public on their rights and how to seek redress,” he said.
The state coordinator added that such collaboration would help in reducing the alarming rate of human rights abuses where they existed.
He noted that the commission also had the statutory duty of promoting, protecting and enforcing human rights.
Shaku advised those in the habit of abusing the rights of fellow citizens to desist or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.
He called on members of the public particularly, victims of abuse, to visit the commission’s office in the state for prompt action.
In his remarks, The State Correspondent of NAN, Mr Isaac Ukpoju, said that the agency was a robust platform for effective information dissemination given its reach and credibility.
Ukpoju assured the NHRC of the agency’s partnership in addressing human rights violations in the state.
“Our preoccupation as an agency is to serve the interest of the people with accurate, reliable and balanced information.
“We are available to collaborate with any group, organisation or agency of government in the public interest,” he said.
NAN also reports that NHRC donated some books and magazines on their activities to the agency.