The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters has cleared 16 nominees, including the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba, for appointment to the governing board of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The committee, chaired by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, screened the nominees following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request for Senate confirmation of appointments to reconstitute the commission’s governing board.

The committee has submitted its report to the Senate for plenary consideration, where lawmakers will decide whether to confirm the nominees.

Anaba, who is also the Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, is among the nominees drawn from journalism, law, public administration, academia and the security services.

Other nominees include Maupe Ogun-Yusuf of Channels Television, Ayo Adewuyi of the Nigerian Television Authority, Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, retired Assistant Controller-General of Corrections Felix Lawrence, and others.

During the screening, lawmakers urged the nominees to demonstrate integrity, patriotism and a strong commitment to the national interest in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The clearance marks a key step towards reconstituting the NHRC board, which requires Senate confirmation under the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act.