PUBLIC OFFICERS AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN NIGERIA, UNITED KINGDOM, AND SOUTH AFRICA: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract

Human Rights are no doubt universal norms and principles which are accorded recognition by various legal systems of democratic countries and entrenched in their relevant extant laws and constitutions. In a constitutional government, human rights of the citizens must be protected by the rules of law and institutions are therefore established for their enforcement and protection. On the other hand, these institutions are protected from the actions enforced by public officers whose roles impact on the effectiveness of human rights protection. This paper; using the doctrinal research methodology, did a comparably analysis the role of Public Officers in the protection and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Part of the findings is that the precarious security situation in Nigeria is such that the rights provided and preserved by the Constitution, has almost been reduced to the pedestal of being regarded as mere privileges than the rights which they are in apposite to what is obtainable in the other jurisdiction in consideration. Even the public officers saddled with the responsibility to protect these rights are themselves sometimes guilty of violating and abusing them. The situation is worrisome and desperately needs an effective solution, based on lessons drawn from other jurisdictions, this paper thereafter made recommendations that can serve as a catalyst and improvement of the situation so that human right protection by public officers can be strengthened with adequate infrastructure, staff and resources necessary for their effective performance that will enable them improve on the preservation and protection of human rights and also bring them in conformity with international best standards.