Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Justiciability of Human Rights Law in Domestic Jurisdictions pp 123–141Cite as

Overcoming the (Non)justiciable Conundrum: The Doctrine of Harmonious Construction and the Interpretation of the Right to a Healthy Environment in Nigeria

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

The legal framework regulating socio-economic rights in Nigeria is ambiguous. These rights, listed under Section II of the constitution titled Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles, are non-justiciable by virtue of section 6(6)(c) of the constitution. However, Nigeria as a dualist state has adopted (ratified and domesticated) the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (African Charter) in accordance with relevant constitutional provisions. Therefore, the provisions of the African Charter are (arguably) part and parcel of Nigeria’s laws, thus ‘justiciable’.

This paper aims to critically examine the status of the socio-economic rights in Nigeria, specifically the right to a healthy environment. With extant literature arguing either for or against the existence of the right to a healthy environment in Nigeria this paper adopts a holistic approach by critically considering both sides of the argument. Premised on the doctrine of harmonious construction, the paper aims suggest a means to end the debate that currently the surrounds the existence and (non)justiciable nature of the ‘right’ to a healthy environment in Nigeria.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Belz (1972), pp. 640–669.

  2. 2.

    Ackerman (1997), pp. 771–797.

  3. 3.

    Ibid.

  4. 4.

    Finer et al. (1995).

  5. 5.

    Wheare (1966), p. 1.

  6. 6.

    Hyndman (2000), pp. 95–112.

  7. 7.

    Mohanan (1997).

  8. 8.

    Ibid.

  9. 9.

    Bellamy and Castiglione (1996), pp. 10–11.

  10. 10.

    Gavison (2002), pp. 89–105.

  11. 11.

    Diala (2013), pp. 135–162.

  12. 12.

    Till date, Nigeria has had nine constitutions and there are: the Clifford Constitution of 1922; the Richards Constitution of 1946; the Macpherson Constitution of 1951; the Lyttelton Constitution of 1954; the Independence Constitution of 1960; the Republican Constitution of 1963; the 1979 Constitution; the 1989 Constitution; and the extant 1999 Constitution. See Okafor and Ngwaba (2013), pp. 688–726.

  13. 13.

    Diala (2013).

  14. 14.

    Nwabueze (1982), p. 151.

  15. 15.

    Ojo (1977–1980).

  16. 16.

    Craven (1995).

  17. 17.

    Craven (1995), p. 6.

  18. 18.

    Agbakwa (2002).

  19. 19.

    See Oloka-Onyango (1995–1996).

  20. 20.

    Mapulanga-Hulston (2002).

  21. 21.

    CDC Report, Vol 1, p. vii 1976.

  22. 22.

    A rule expressive of the view that international law is too weak to take cognizance of questions involving important issues; it is to reserve to states freedom of action in disputes of importance. Generally see Harris (2008); Boer (2005), pp. 134–137.

  23. 23.

    CDC Report, Vol. 1, p. vii 1976.

  24. 24.

    Sax (1990), pp. 93–105. Also see Miller (1976) and Lucas (1972).

  25. 25.

    Wiles (2006–2007). Also see CDC Report vol 1, v.

  26. 26.

    Okon (2003).

  27. 27.

    Ojo (1977–1980), p. 42. Also cited in Okon (2003), p. 264.

  28. 28.

    [1980] FNR 445.

  29. 29.

    Ibid., p. 445.

  30. 30.

    [2005] 6 AHRLR 152.

  31. 31.

    Egede (2007), pp. 249–284.

  32. 32.

    See Akunnia v. The Attorney General of Anambra State (1977) SCR 161.

  33. 33.

    Black (2005) Contempt Case for Shell Over Gas (BBC News, 24 December 2005). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4556662.stm.

  34. 34.

    Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/518/2005.

  35. 35.

    The case is discussed subsequently in the sub-section on FREP Rules.

  36. 36.

    Egede (2007), pp. 249–284. Enabulele (2009); Ekhator (2014), pp. 63–79.

  37. 37.

    Cap A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

  38. 38.

    Ssenyonjo (2012).

  39. 39.

    See General Sani Abacha v. Chief Gani Fawehinmi (2000) SC No. 45/1997.

  40. 40.

    Ako (2013), p. 25.

  41. 41.

    See Muhammed Garuba and Others v. Attorney-General of Lagos State Unreported suit no. ID559M/90.

  42. 42.

    Ako (2014), p. 7. A Paper presented at the 3rd UNITAR-Yale Conference on Environmental Governance and Democracy, available at: http://conference.unitar.org/yale2014/sites/conference.unitar.org.yale2014/files/2014%20UNITAR-Yale%20Conference-Ako_0.pdf. Also see Ako (2013), p. 25.

  43. 43.

    Communication 155/96.

  44. 44.

    Atsegbua et al. (2004).

  45. 45.

    Ibid., p. 143.

  46. 46.

    Page 586 (f)–(g).

  47. 47.

    Ako (2014).

  48. 48.

    Ako (2013).

  49. 49.

    Amechi (2010), p. 329.

  50. 50.

    Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/518/2005.

  51. 51.

    Ebeku (2007).

  52. 52.

    Ako (2013), p. 33. Also see Oluduro (2014), p. 404 who made a similar assertion stated thus “an individual whose socio-economic rights have been or are likely to be violated can rely on the provisions of the African Charter, including the right to a satisfactory under Article 24 of the Charter to advance the protection of such rights.”

  53. 53.

    Etemire (2014).

  54. 54.

    Draft Report of the National Conference, 2014.

  55. 55.

    1958 SCR 895.

  56. 56.

    1992 AIR 1789.

  57. 57.

    Jagdish Singh v. Lt. Governor, Delhi and Ors. Case No.: Appeal (civil) 1866 of 1997 at the Supreme Court of India.

  58. 58.

    Ibid.

  59. 59.

    AIR 2002 SC 391.

  60. 60.

    Anderson (1996).

  61. 61.

    1991 1 SCC 598.

  62. 62.

    1994 (0) MPLJ 224.

  63. 63.

    Ako (2013), pp. 33–39.

References

  • Ako, R. (2013). Environmental justice in developing countries: Perspectives from Africa and the Asia-Pacific. Abingdon, England: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ako, R. (2014). Environmental justice in Nigeria’s oil industry: Recognizing and embracing contemporary legal developments. In R. V. Percival, J. Lin, & W. Piermattei (Eds.), Global environmental law at a crossroads. Cheltenham, England: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, M. R. (1996). Human rights approaches to environmental protection: An overview. In A. E. Boyle & M. R. Anderson (Eds.), Human rights approaches to environmental protection. Oxford, England: OUP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atsegbua, L. A., Dimowo, F., & Akpotaire, V. (2004). Environmental law in Nigeria: Theory and practice. Lagos, Portugal: Ababa Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belz, H. (1972). Changing conceptions of constitutionalism in the era of World War II and the Cold War. The Journal of American History, 59(3), 640–669.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellamy, D., & Castiglione, D. (Eds.). (1996). Constitutionalism transformation; European and theoretical perspectives. Oxford, England: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boer, R. (2005). Fundamentalism. In T. Benenett, M. M. Grossberg, & R. Williams (Eds.), New keywords: A revised vocabulary of culture and society (pp. 134–137). London: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Craven, M. (1995). The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: A perspective on its development. Oxford, England: Clarendon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diala, A. C. (2013). The dawn of constitutional governance in Nigeria. In M. K. Mbondenyi & T. Ojienda (Eds.), Constitutionalism, constitution making and the constitutional reform in Africa: Cotemporary perspectives from sub-Saharan Africa (pp. 135–162). Cape Town, South Africa: PULP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finer, S. E., Bogdanor, V., & Rudden, B. (Eds.). (1995). Comparing constitutions. Oxford, England: Clarendon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, H. (2008). Fundamentalism and evangelicals. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, D. (1976). Social justice. Oxford, England: Clarendon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohanan, P. (1997). Constitutional law. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Irwin Law.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nwabueze, B. (1982). A constitutional history of Nigeria. Lagos, Portugal: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okafor, O. O., & Ngwaba, U. (2013). Economic and social rights: A century of constitutional subordination. In E. Azinge & J. Adediran (Eds.), Nigeria: A century of constitutional evolution (pp. 688–726). Lagos, Portugal: Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ssenyonjo, M. (Ed.). (2012). The African Regional Human Rights System: 30 years after the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Leiden, the Netherlands: Martinus Nijhoff.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oluduro, O. (2014). Oil exploitation and human rights violations in Nigeria’s oil producing communities. Cambridge, England: Intersentia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheare, K. (1966). Modern constitutions. Oxfordshire, England: OUP.

    Google Scholar 

Articles

  • Ackerman, B. (1997). The rise of world constitutionalism. Virginia Law Review, 83(4), 771–797.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agbakwa, S. (2002). Reclaiming humanity: Economic social and cultural rights as the corner stone of African Human Rights. The Yale Human Rights and Development Journal, 5, 177–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amechi, E. (2010). Litigating right to healthy environment in Nigeria: An examination of the impacts of the fundamental rights (enforcement procedure) rules 2009, in ensuring access to justice for victims of environmental degradation. Law, Environment and Development Journal, 6(3), 320–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebeku, K. (2007). Constitutional right to a healthy environment and human rights approaches to environmental protection in Nigeria: Gbemre v. Shell Revisited. Review of European Community & International Environmental Law, 16(3), 319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Egede, E. (2007). Bringing human rights home: An examination of the domestication of human rights treaties in Nigeria. Journal of African Law, 51(2), 249–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ekhator, E. O. (2014). Improving access to environmental justice under the African charter: The roles of NGOs in Nigeria. African Journal of International and Comparative Law, 22(1), 63–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enabulele, A. (2009). Implementation of treaties in Nigeria and the status question: Whither Nigerian courts. African Journal of International and Comparative Law, 17(2), 326–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Etemire, U. (2014). The 2014 Nigerian national conference and the development of environmental law and governance. Law and Politics in Africa, Asia and Latin America, 4, 482–490.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gavison, R. (2002). What belongs in a constitution. Constitutional Political Economy, 13(1), 89–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyndman, P. (2000). Constitutions, constitutionalism and the effective implementation of the International Standards of Human Rights. The Australian Year Book of International Law, 21, 95–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, J. R. (1972). Justice. XLVII 237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mapulanga-Hulston, J. K. (2002). Examining the justiciability of economic, social and cultural rights. The International Journal of Human Rights, 6(4), 29–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ojo, A. (1977–1980). Fundamental human rights in Nigeria: The 1963 and 1979 Constitutional provisions. NJCL, 118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okon, E. (2003). The environmental perspective in the 1999 Nigerian constitution. Environmental Law Review, 5(4), 256–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oloka-Onyango, J. (1995–1996). Beyond the rhetoric: Reinvigorating the struggle for economic and social rights in Africa. California Western International Law Journal, 26, 1–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sax, J. (1990). The search for environmental rights. The Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law, 6(1), 93–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiles, E. (2006–2007). Aspirational principles or enforceable rights? The future for socio-economic rights in national law. The American University Law Review, 22, 35–64.

    Google Scholar 

Cases

  • Akunnia v. The Attorney General of Anambra State (1977) SCR 161

    Google Scholar 

  • Bishop Okogie (Trustee of Roman Catholic Schools) & Ors v. Attorney – General of Lagos State [1980] FNR 445

    Google Scholar 

  • Jagdish Singh v. Lt. Governor, Delhi and Ors. Case No.: Appeal (civil) 1866 of 1997 at the Supreme Court of India

    Google Scholar 

  • General Sani Abacha v. Chief Gani Fawehinmi (2000) SC No. 45/1997

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikechukwu Opara & Others v. Shell Petroleum Development Company Nig. Ltd. and 5 others Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/518/2005

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishan Kumar v. State of Rajasthan and Ors 1992 AIR 1789

    Google Scholar 

  • M/s. British Airways Plc. v. Union of India and Others AIR 2002 SC 391

    Google Scholar 

  • Muhammed Garuba and Others v. Attorney-General of Lagos State Unreported suit no. ID559M/90

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheikh Bishmillah v. State of Madhya Pradesh and Ors 1994 (0) MPLJ 224

    Google Scholar 

  • Social and Economic Rights Action Centre and the Centre for Economic and Social Rights v. Nigeria Communication 155/96

    Google Scholar 

  • Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar 1991 1 SCC 598

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkataramana Devaru v. State of Mysore 1958 SCR 895

    Google Scholar 

Web/Online

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Hull Law School, Hull, UK

    Rhuks Ako & Eghosa O. Ekhator

  2. Faculty of Law, University of Benin, Benin, Nigeria

    Ngozi Stewart

Authors
  1. Rhuks Ako
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ngozi Stewart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eghosa O. Ekhator
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eghosa O. Ekhator .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Law and Criminology, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, United Kingdom

    Alice Diver

  2. School of Law, Northumbria University, Newcastle, United Kingdom

    Jacinta Miller

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ako, R., Stewart, N., Ekhator, E.O. (2016). Overcoming the (Non)justiciable Conundrum: The Doctrine of Harmonious Construction and the Interpretation of the Right to a Healthy Environment in Nigeria. In: Diver, A., Miller, J. (eds) Justiciability of Human Rights Law in Domestic Jurisdictions. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24016-9_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24016-9_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-24014-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-24016-9

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation