WHAT IS CITIZEN RIGHT | RIGHT AND DUTIES OF CITIZEN | 1999 CONSTITUTION FOR THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (CFRN)

These are right naturally accruable to every person by virtue of his/her existence as a human being. The following as fundamental rights.
*          Right to life
*          Right to dignity of human persons
*          Right to personal liberty
*          Right to fair hearing
*          Right to compensation for property compulsorily acquired

*          Right to private and family life
*          Right to freedom of thought conscience and religion
*          Right to freedom of expression
*          Right to peaceful assembly and association
*          Right to freedom of movement
*          Right to freedom from discrimination on the grounds of ethane group, place of origin, circumstance of birth, sex, religion or political opines

The constitution right include:
(i)        Free and compulsory education
(ii)       Adequate health care gainful employment
(iii)     Shelter food e.t.c the former are justice-able right, i.e citizens could so to court to enforce them if denied.

The later rights are however non-justice-able, that is these set of rights are not enforceable in the court. They are aspirations attainable if and when the state has the resources. However, the commission believes the two sets of right are both fundamental and complementary. For instance to move in the first place or what is right to life without any gainful employment or food to sustain economic social and cultural right to fundamental rights. A submission to this effect was made to the joint national assembly and presidential committee on the review of the 1999 constitution.

BASIC RIGHTS UNDER THE 1999 CONSTITUTION FOR THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (CFRN)
Right of Nigerians to include the following
1.         Right of Life:  Everyone has an inviolable right to life. No one may be deprived of life except for the defence of any person or property, or suppression of riot, mutiny or insurrection. Where any person’s life is unlawfully taken, it is extra judicial killing. The culprit must be prosecuted while the surviving victims are entitled to apology and compensation. The NHRC treats many complaints of this nature. It help to ensure prosecution of offenders through the attorney General of police.
2.         Right to Dignity of Human Person:
Every person is entitled to the dignity his/her person and no one shall be subjected to fortune, inhuman or degrading treatment. Flogging or beating of any person by another for any reason is unconstitutional. Any form of torture by any means is unlawful. The commission encourages victims of torture to promptly report such incidents to the appropriate quarters, if it is possible a hospital  treatment on record should be obtained as well as photograph of the evidence, of torture. This is because it may be difficult to establish torture or degrading treatment once the wounds conflicted have healed with time. It is hoped that responsible organization or agencies will assist to stamp out the occurrence. The commission has received numerous complaints about torture.

Victims of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment must not keep quiet so that the culprits might be brought to book. Under this section of the constitution on one shall be hold in slavery or servitude nor shall any one be required to perform forced or compulsory labour. The only exception is in circumstances allowed by the constitution.

3.         Right to personal liberty:
Every person is entitled to personal liberty. A person may only be deprived of his/her liberty in execution of a court sentence for a criminal offence for which he/she has been tried and convicted no person below the age of 18 shall be detained in prison custody.
Any person who is arrested on suspicion of having committed an offence has the right to
*          Remain silent until after consulting a lawyer
*          Be informed in writing within twenty-four hours  that is one day of the fact and grounds of his arrest or detention.
*          Be brought or trial within a reasonable time. This is times not more than 48 hours. Where a person is unlawful arrested, the person shall  be entitled to compensation. And aplogy form the violator.

No one is to pay any sum of money to any person or authority for the grant of bail. Bail is free. The surety sum is not for payment it only become relevant if the person granted bail jumps bail. Any person who has had his/her right violated in any enumerated must contain sufficient particulars to enable commission take prompt action.

4.         Right to fair hearing:  In the determination of person’s civil right and obligations against any person, government or authority. He/she is entitled to a court established by law and constituted in a manner to secure its independence impartiality.
The exercise of this right includes;
*          Right to be represented by a cowed of one’s choice.
*          Right to appeal to higher court or authority
*          The proceedings shall be held in pubic in day time

Any person charged with a criminal offence is presumed innocent until proved quite. Such a persons is also entitled to;
*          Be informed in a language he understand the detail nature of his offence
*          Be given adequate time to prepare his defence and
*          Defend himself in a person or though a lawyer of his choice.
*          Examine or cross-examine witness or call witnesses in his own defence.
*          An interpreter, where necessary

The court shall keep proper record of the proceeding and maker obtainable by the accused person or anyone authorized by him. No one shall be tried twice for the same offence and anyone pardoned shall not be tried for the same offence against.

5.         Right to private and family life: 
Citizens have right to privacy of themselves. Their homes
correspondence, telephone and telegraphic communication.
A violation of this right amounts to invasion of privacy. Remedies can be pursued either in the court or through the commission.

6.         Right of freedom of thought, conscience and religion: 
Every person is entitled of freedom of though conscience and religion including to change his belief or religion. You can exercise this freedom either public. No person attending an educational institution shall be required to take religions instruction, take part in or attend religious ceremonies or observation of a religion not his own. Religious ceremonies or observation of a to provide instructions for their pupils. However, there is no right to farm or take part in the activities of a secret society or cult.

7.         Right to peaceful assembly and association: Everyone has the right to peaceful assembly and association. You can assembly freely and associate with others. You may form or belong to a political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of your interests. Again, this does not give the right to form belong to and or participate in a secret society or cult.

8.         Right to freedom of expression:
Right to freedom of expression and the press is very fundamental to the sustenance of democracy. Everyone is exited to hold opinion and receive and impart ideas and information without interference. You can own establish and operate newspapers, radio or and opinions. This must however be dozen with respect to the reputation of others and the law against libel and defamation.

9.         Right of freedom of movement:
Everyone has the right to freedom of movement throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part of the country. No citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled or refused entry or exit from the country. A few exception must be observed so that the privacy of person or property of others is not rioted.

10.       Right of freedom from discrimination: 
No citizen of Nigeria shall be discriminated against an the basis of his community, ethnic group place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion. No one shall be subjected to any disability no ant or a combination of these factors,.
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