Overview

This book analyses the position of socio-economic rights (SER) and the approaches that could be taken to realise SER in Nigeria within the sphere of international human rights jurisprudence. The implementation of SER is a much-debated issue in human rights practice by academics from various disciplines, and there is a plethora of objections to SER being described as rights in the first place, not to mention their being justiciable. This aptly captures the situation in Nigeria, and any sort of judicial 'interference' in the enforcement of SER is criticised as tying the hands of governments with unrealistic commitments by those (courts) who lack the democratic legitimacy and institutional capacity to make such decisions. The book argues that the involvement of the courts can help shape social and public policy to realise SER in Nigeria. The argument for an increased involvement of Nigerian courts in SER advocacy is enriched by discussing comparative perspectives on SER from other jurisdictions.