Dr Onyekachi Ubani, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), on Monday, called for adequate enforcement of Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution to promote socio-economic rights of citizens.
Ubani, made the call in a welcome address he delivered at a town hall meeting of the NBA-SPIDEL in Lagos.
The meeting had the theme: “Justiciability of Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution: Pragmatic Measures for Government’s Accountability”.
According to him, the chapter has the heading “Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy” and makes elaborate provision for things that make life worth living for citizens such as education, health, employment, security and welfare.
Ubani said that the chapter should be the focus and fulcrum of every government.
“As fundamental as these socio-economic rights provided in the constitution appear on the face value, the same constitution divests the courts of their enforcement.
“The essence of this gathering is to remind major stakeholders in Nigeria that the time to enforce the terms of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State policy, is now,” he said.
Ubani said that as the nation would be approaching the 2023 General Elections period, agenda for governance must be set and met,
“Nothing is fundamental about our human rights in Chapter Four if the socio-economic rights in Chapter Two are not given any meaning.
“In this hall are our judicial officers who owe the citizens the responsibility to interprete the constitution to manifest the intent and purpose of its existence,” he said.
Ubani consequently called on every stakeholder to encourage enforcement of constitutional provisions so as to enable enforcement of “every right that is a right”.
