Some delegates at the first African Union (AU) Business and Human Rights Forum have called for effective implementation of the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on Business and Human Rights.
They spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Accra at a two-day forum organised by the AU in partnership with other groups, including Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, a non-profit German foundation.
Mr Damilola Olawuyi, representing the African region at the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, said that adopting the National Action Plan (NAP) on Human Rights, a UNGP framework, would improve work standards and ensure a decent wage.
”Adopting the NAP on Human Rights will attract a better working condition that will ensure increase in human development.
”Our efforts to get investment and trade into Nigeria should be held by a robust human rights safeguard. Human Rights and investment go together.
”We are saying that businesses should establish enough safeguards to avoid conflicts in workplaces, unfair termination of appointment and molestation, to advance human development.
”Nigeria is such a big economy, a world-respected country that when we lead, others will follow in adopting NAP.
“The process has started in the country and I will like to see it accelerate,” he said.
Olawuyi told NAN that discussions with the Human Rights Commission in Nigeria showed that the country was not lagging behind as there was a significant awareness on the need to hold businesses accountable, to ensure responsible conduct in recruiting staff.
”Businesses are aware of the need to enforce good treatment of staff and also ensure that women have key roles in economic development,” he said.
An AU official, Mr John Ikubaje, urged Nigeria to be committed to implementing UNGPs on Business and Human Rights since the country was a signatory.
”It is now left for Nigeria to develop its own NAP.
“The business sector and civil society organisations should be involved,” Ikubaje said.
According to him, adequate protection of human rights will eliminate violations in business environments.
Also, Mr Issaka Abdou, Head, Governance and Human Rights, Political Affairs, Peace and Security, AU Commission, said that participants at the forum should ensure their countries’ adoption of the framework.
Abdou added that recommendations from the forum should be pushed within countries to ensure growth.
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