Badamasiuy, Juwayriya and Bello, Muhammad (2014) The realization of the right to food in Nigeria: Good governance as the missing element. In: UUM International Conference on Governance 2014 (ICG), 29th - 30th November 2014, Flamingo Hotel By The Beach, Pulau Pinang.

PDF Restricted to Registered users only Download (381kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

The promotion and protection of human rights has become a global standard often employed to measure a country’s commitment to democracy and good governance.With the flexibility of the human rights jurisprudence, the right to food is increasingly becoming an acceptable universal norm designed to aid in the realization of a number of socio-economic rights and address the critical challenges facing many developing countries, including Nigeria.However, it is an emerging right that is gradually evolving, and like most emerging rights, there are pressing challenges militating against its realization in national legal systems. Although recognized as a right in Nigeria, there are governance, institutional and legal hurdles towards its realization. The general state of socio-economic rights in Nigeria may be linked to the increasing poor governance and corresponding underdevelopment, poverty, inequality, malnutrition and deaths.Drawing from the developments in India, Brazil and South Africa and using the provisions of the 1999 constitution, and other relevant domestic and international instruments on the right to food, the paper argues that the realization of this important right largely depends on the ideal of good governance. In this regard, it identifies the legal hurdles to its realization and argues that given the importance of food to human survival, the right to food should be placed on an equal pedestal with all recognized legal rights in Nigeria.The paper recommends a constitutional amendment, judicial activism and adherence to the ideals of the rule of law, good governance and constitutionalism for effective realization of the right to food in Nigeria.The paper also recommends the enactment of a legislation on food security in the country.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Additional Information:	ISBN NO: 978-983-2078-95-1 Organizers: Institute for Governance and Innovation Studies (IGIS), College of Law, Government and International Studies (UUM COLGIS) and University of Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Human rights, rights to food, good governance, Nigeria
Subjects:	J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
Divisions:	College of Law, Government and International Studies
Depositing User:	Mrs. Norazmilah Yaakub
Date Deposited:	26 Jan 2015 03:02
Last Modified:	26 Jan 2015 03:02
URI:	https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/13186

Actions (login required)

View Item