NHRC Admonishes Multinational Firms To Provide Host Communities With Impactful Projects

NHRC Admonishes Multinational Firms To Provide Host Communities With Impactful Projects 

Iduozee Efe Paul, Benin 

The Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Anthony Okechukwu Ojukwu has advised multinational companies operating in the various host communities in the country against carrying out projects that are not of meaningful impactful on the lives of the people.

Anthony Okechukwu Ojukwu made the statements during the public presentation and launching of "The community-based research report on human rights violation in the palm oil supply chain in Edo State, an event put together by the African Law Foundation (AFRILAW).

Ojukwu, who was represented by the deputy director legal/Focal Point Business and Human Rights, NHRC, Abuja, Mrs.Mary Okoh, said the era where multinational companies go to their host communities, acquire all their farm lands without adequately involving them with the view of stating their demands, is far gone adding that the federal government is working assiduously to end it.

He posited,"You know, one of the things we want to also bring to the fore in the course of this event is the fact that the government, the National Human Rights Commission in collaboration with other stakeholders have developed a document called the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. 

"And that document is supposed to help businesses mainstream human rights in their operation. You know, it's good that people have CSR, corporate social responsibility, government or businesses carry out corporate social responsibility but we want to say, go beyond corporate social responsibility that we feel it looks like a tokenism.

"Beautiful decoration that you want to do outside, we want to handle the major issues of mainstreaming human rights into your operation. That even when you want to start up a business, you begin to ask yourself, what's the need of these people? What do they need? Not what you feel they need. You know, because that's where the violation of their right to self-determination comes in.

"You know, when you begin to do tokenism, you begin to dash them what you feel they will require. You go build road, you take care of school. That's fine. But let's go beyond calling them together and including them. Even in that decision you're trying to make. 

"Even if it's going to benefit them, but let them be part of that decision. Let them be part of the discussion of what you're going to give them. You know, because it is in the process of that, you'll be able to enforce, you know, give expression to their socio-economic right."

Commenting at the launching of the event, the researcher of "the community-based research report on human rights violation in the palm oil supply chain in Edo State", Dr. Uyi Ojo said the aggressive tendencies for multinational companies to acquire farm lands for their palm oil plantations have made farmers to be short of places to cultivate their crops, thereby leading to hunger and starvation in most communities.

He concluded by saying there must put in place a mandatory binding CSR laws, and guidelines for companies to ensure that community rights and privileges are protected.

Dr. Ojo faulted these multinational companies of using the military and other security agencies to intimidate their host communities.

Ojo suggested that for the companies to get it right, there must be a mechanism put in place to always address issues of conflicts whenever they arise to avoid them snowballing into a major fracas.

Uyi Ojo recommended that, the security in the host communities and address the spate of kidnapping and violence in the area,  to enact policies, legislation, regulations and enable effective adjudication to prevent, probe punish and redress all forms of threats and attacks against human rights defenders in a business context.

Given his welcome address, the founder and Chief Executive Officer, AFRILAW, Okereke Chinwike, he appealed to the government at levels to ensure the protection of oil palm host communities and address the spate of kidnapping and violence in such areas.

He said AFRILAW aim is to advance the rule of law, human rights and justice for peaceful, just, secured, inclusive and sustainable development of the society.

Okereke Chinwike tasked the governments to ensure that communities’ rights and privileges are respected in land deals with oil palm companies to avoid human rights violations.

Chinwike said",The research is informed by the increasing spate of violence and community protests against the operations of oil palm companies operating in Edo state, and provides greater understanding of the prevailing cases of community and human rights violations and nature of conflicts. 

 "The study deploys the rights-based approach to development essential to assessing the links to oil palm companies’ operations to the curtailment of human rights, and the increasing social and environmental impacts on the people and communities. "