NIS TRAGEDY: FED GOVT DRAGGED TO UN OVER VIOLATION OF JOB-SEEKERS’ RIGHTS

Perturbed by the stampede that took the lives of fifteen Nigerians seeking employment into the National Immigration Service (NIS), the Socio- Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent a petition to UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, requesting him to publicly condemn and refer the unlawful deaths and inhuman and degrading treatment of job-seekers by the Nigerian government to appropriate United Nations human rights bodies .

In a statement signed by the Executive Director of SERAP, Adetokunbo Mumuni, which was made available to New Telegraph yesterday, human rights bodies mentioned in the petition were the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council. The group said intervention of UN was necessary in order to achieve international accountability of Nigeria for the violations of the human rights of the job-seekers.

The group pointed out that by doing this; the Secretary-General would be upholding the values and moral authority of the United Nations and sending a powerful message that the UN will not tolerate fragrant violations of human rights of Nigerians.

In the petition dated 17 March 2014, the organization said, “Millions of Nigerian children and university graduates continue to be denied the right to work unfairly. Yet, work is important for personal development as well as for social and economic inclusion.”

“The unlawful deaths and inhuman and degrading treatment of the job-seekers constitute violations of their rights to life, dignity and work.

The case also showed the growing level of economic injustice caused by pervasive corruption and lack of opportunities for Nigerian children to enjoy the right to employment and to gain a living by work, as guaranteed by international and regional human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party,” the organization said.