NHRC Calls for Impactful CSR Projects From Multinational Firms

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged multinational companies operating in Edo State to provide impactful projects that meet the needs of host communities.
During the launch of a report on human rights violations in the palm oil supply chain by the African Law Foundation (AFRILAW), NHRC representatives emphasized the need for companies to go beyond token CSR gestures and involve communities in decision-making.
Researchers highlighted the displacement of farmers due to land acquisition and called for binding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) laws.
AFRILAW called on governments to protect oil palm host communities and ensure their rights are respected.
The Executive Secretary of NHRC, Anthony Okechukwu Ojukwu advised multinational companies against carrying out projects that did not impact the lives of the host communities.
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 acquired community farmlands without involving the local people in the project would soon end.
He posited, “NHRC in collaboration with other stakeholders have developed a document called the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. That document is supposed to help businesses mainstream human rights in their operation. 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 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.
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 mass acquisition of farmlands for their palm oil plantations by multinational companies have led to hunger and starvation in many communities.
He said there must be in place mandatory binding CSR laws and guidelines for companies to ensure that community rights and privileges are protected.
Dr. Ojo also faulted these multinational companies for using the military and other security agencies to intimidate their host communities, suggesting that for the companies to get it right, there must be a mechanism put in place to always address issues of conflicts.
The founder and Chief Executive Officer, AFRILAW, Okereke Chinwike, appealed to the government to ensure the protection of oil palm host communities and address the spate of kidnapping and violence in the areas.
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.”
Meanwhile, the CEO of AFRILAW Okereke Chinwike has called on the media and civil society organizations to hold multinational companies accountable for their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to host communities.
Chinwike made the statements while speaking on the topic: “Responsible Oil Palm Chain and Protection of Community/Indigenous People and Human Rights Defenders in Nigeria,” said civil society organizations should champion the rights and privileges of communities where oil palm multinational companies operate.
Chinwike charged civil society organizations and the media organizations to wake up to their core duty and mandate to ensure that these companies carry out their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) to their host communities.
Edo State Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Olumide Dosumu decried the rate of domestic violence despite massive sensitization campaigns.
Speaking on the sub-topic, ‘Human Rights Law and Protection of Community and Indigenous People’s Rights in Nigeria’, Dosumu, said civil society organisations need to do more.
Speaking on the “Effective Oil Palm Business Enterprise and Host Community Engagement for Sustainable Oil Palm Development in Nigeria,” an independent research consultant, Dr. Uyi Ojo, said 60,000 persons have been displaced from their communities by a multinational palm oil company that forcefully acquired their farm lands to enlarge their plantations.
Dr. Uyi Ojo, who was represented by Dr. Osuma Oarhe, a lecturer in Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, said that such an act violates the rights of the people of the communities who have been displaced.
Ojo said one of the major reasons host communities and the multinational companies are usually having a showdown is that, they are not adequately compensated for the acquisitions of their lands.
He said media organizations can also do a lot to help report human rights abuses in the various host communities.