The declared commitment of the Government of Nigeria to civilian rule, multi-party democracy and freedom of assembly, press and political activity by 1 October 1998, and recalling, in this regard, the declaration by the Government of 1 October 1995 which the Government recently confirmed;
b
The decision of the Commission on Human Rights to appoint a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Nigeria;6
6Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1997, Supplement No. 3 (E/1997/23), chap. II, sect. A, resolution 1997/53.
c
The note by the Secretary-General concerning the discharge of his good offices mandate,7 and requests him, in cooperation with the Commonwealth, to continue to undertake further discussion with the Government of Nigeria and to report on progress in the implementation of the present resolution and on the possibilities for the international community to offer practical assistance to Nigeria in achieving the restoration of democratic rule and the full enjoyment of human rights;
At continuing grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Nigeria, including arbitrary detention, as well as failure to respect due process of law;
b
That the absence of representative government in Nigeria has led to violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms and is contrary to the popular support for democratic government as evidenced in the 1993 elections;
c
That additional persons among those detained in Nigeria are to be tried by the same flawed judicial process which led to the arbitrary execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his associates;
d
At the lack of preparatory steps by the Government of Nigeria to secure the reinstallation of a representative government following elections characterized by genuine popular participation in a multi-party context;
e
At the past refusal of the Government of Nigeria to cooperate with the Commission on Human Rights and its mechanisms;
3
Calls uponthe Government of Nigeria:
a
To ensure urgently the observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including by respecting the right to life, by releasing all political prisoners, including those detained in connection with the 1993 presidential elections, among them Chief M. K. O. Abiola, trade union leaders, human rights advocates and journalists currently detained, by improving conditions of detention and by guaranteeing freedom of the press, freedom of opinion and association and respect for the rights of individuals, including persons belonging to minorities;
b
To ensure that all trials are held fairly and promptly and in strict conformity with international human rights standards;
c
To abide by its freely undertaken obligations under the International Covenants on Human Rights and other human rights instruments, and notes with interest, in this regard, the recommendations of the Human Rights Committee to the Government of Nigeria;8
To take concrete and credible steps to restore democratic government without delay, to end rule by decree and to permit an observer presence during transition, as recommended by the United Nations fact-finding mission;
e
To ensure the independence of the National Human Rights Commission, including in its investigations of human rights abuses;
f
To implement fully its interim undertakings to the Secretary-General without further delay and to respond in full to the recommendations of the mission sent to Nigeria by the Secretary-General;
g
To implement its obligations under the Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, 1948 (No.87), of the International Labour Organization, while noting the special paragraph in the report of the International Labour Conference Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, as adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 85th session, on Nigeria's failure to comply with that Convention;
h
To cooperate fully with the Commission on Human Rights and its mechanisms;
4
Decides to consider this question at its fifty-third session under the item entitled "Human rights questions".
