Nigerians want to protest because their rights aren’t guaranteed – Accountability lab

Country Director, Accountability Lab, Friday Odeh, says Nigerians are eager to join the planned nationwide protest over the current economic hardship because their rights are not guaranteed. According to reports, some youths are planning a nationwide protest between August 1 and 15 against the rising cost of living and economic hardship in the country. Speaking on […]

Country Director, Accountability Lab, Friday Odeh, says Nigerians are eager to join the planned nationwide protest over the current economic hardship because their rights are not guaranteed.

According to reports, some youths are planning a nationwide protest between August 1 and 15 against the rising cost of living and economic hardship in the country.

Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja during a roundtable conversation on enhancing accountability in freedom of speech and surveillance practices, Odeh said the judiciary has a huge role to play to restore the rights of citizens.

The country director said: ” The judiciary stands as one of the bodies that upholds human rights. In a democratic society that we claim to be, the fundamental freedom, basic tenets and democratic principle needs to be upheld and if anything happens to any of us today, the first thing is to go to court.

“If you go to court, you would see that they hold a strong position to see how we can make Nigeria thrive as a democratic society. Otherwise, democratic backsliding is what we are experiencing, not just in Nigeria, but in the whole of Africa, where you see all of these things happening.

“In Nigeria, we see a protest coming up, which is a revoke from citizens because their human rights are not guaranteed. So, I strongly feel the judiciary has a role to play in all of these.”

Daily Trust reports that the roundtable, which was organized by Accountability Lab Nigeria, in partnership with the National Endowment for Democracy and Luminate facilitated dialogue among key government agencies, the judiciary, communication and data-focused institutions, and civil society on the responsible deployment of surveillance technologies.