Appraisal of the Interrelatedness of Social and Economic Rights with Right to Dignity of Human Person in Nigeria

Abstract

Prior to the adoption of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by the United Nations Organisation, Nigeria had entrenched the fundamental rights provisions in Chapter 3 of her Independence Constitution of 1960 and, subsequently, the Republican Constitution of 1963.The measure was taken in order to allay the fears that gripped the minorities while Nigeria arranged for self-rule. However, for over 61 years of Nigerian Independence, Nigerians have remained in constant battle on how to appreciate fundamental rights provisions under the Constitution in the absence of justiciability of social and economic rights under Nigerian law. This paper aims to appraise the interrelatedness of social and economic rights with the right to dignity of the human person in Nigeria. The paper commenced by reviewing the relevant provisions of law that provide for social and economic rights vis-à-vis the right to dignity of human person. The paper adopted a doctrinal research method. It was discovered that the non-justiciability of social and economic rights under Nigerian law has played an anti-clock role in realizing the right to dignity of the human person in Nigeria. Based on the foregoing, recommendations were made to wit: legislative pro-activeness and judicial activism on matters of social and economic rights of Nigerians.