MINUTES OF HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATION MEETING HELD AT PASTORAL CENTRE, JOS ON THURSDAY 5 APRIL 2001

 1. ATTENDANCE – See attached list

2. OPENING PRAYER – At 5.00pm Mr. Embu said the opening prayer.

3. MINUTES – The Ag. Secretary read the minutes of Thursday 8^th March 2001, which were adopted on a motion by Mrs. Ogunshuyi.

            Minutes of the meeting of Thursday 22 March 2001 were circulated and read. It was noted that there was a mix-up about the rooms for the meeting so members were in two different rooms and did not realize that till very late.

            Mr. Onogwu moved for the adoption and this was seconded by Mr. Pwajok.

4. WELCOME – (a) The Chairman welcomed all members, appreciating their efforts but also urged that action would come out of meetings. He always prayed at Mass for the efforts of the Human Rights Organization.

(b) The Chairman welcomed Sr. Freddie from the Centre for Renewal. She said she had been invited by the Archbishop of Jos to be involved in Justice Development and Peace, particularly the Animation Team. In the USA, she was in the movement for resisting policies of Government. When something big is happening in the society, the Parish Priest is asked to announce it. The capacity God has given each of us is to be spread and shared with others.

(c) Reactions to Sr. Freddie’s Remarks:

-         A member asked what was the need for the Animation Team?

-         Sr. Freddie noted that she was just an observer for now so had no personal concrete suggestion. However, she reported that a meeting of the Justice and Peace Committee had recommended five full-time staff at Archdiocesan level, including four relate to each of the Deaneries and activate related parish committee.

-         Sr. Freddie should take back to the Committee on Animation the origin of the Animation team, which arose from the Evaluation Workshop of 1998.

-         Any ideas that come up on this can be submitted to Sr. Freddie.

5. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES:

a) Report from Sr. Ehoba’s Committee on  proposed one day workshop. Two topics were suggested (i) Fair Day’s Work for Fair Day’s Pay; (ii) Freedom of Speech – how really true is this?

The 17 Local Government Councils in Plateau State would be invited to send three representatives each including a female from each.

In reacting to the suggestion to get assistance from the Government, members noted that one should be careful in getting financial assistance from Government against whom one might have to speak in fighting injustice.

The workshop should be planned for the 2^nd week of June.

b) Report from Barr. Deshi on the Visit to Local Government Chairman in Jos – The Chairman of Jos North LG appreciated the idea of putting up hostels for young women. He would take it up with other Chairmen. The HRO should write him formally, copy the Bauchi Chairman of ALGON who was the Chairman of Langtang North Local Government. The letter should also be sent to the Chairman, Jos North LG as an individual.

Members thanked Barr. Deshi for the efforts taken and recommended that the letter be done and delivered.

6. A.O.B.

a)      A donation of two reams of paper was received from Patrick Okoroafor and would be kept in the HRO office.

b)      There was an invitation from the Catholic Secretariat for lawyers to attend the inauguration of the National Association of Catholic Lawyers on Saturday 28 April 2001 at the Workshop on the Constitution for Nigeria at St. Louis Catholic Parish Hall, Lagos.

c)      Request on NTA programme – this might have been possible on “Media Chat” but nothing could be done now on Rationalisation because there was a case in court.

d)      Possible increase in petrol price – members wondered whether HRO could comment on this. The Chairman would discuss with the Archbishop of Jos the approach of the Bishops on publicizing such an opinion on petrol price.

e)      The General Manager of PRTV had not reported correctly on the Archbishop’s comments on deregulation and a member asked whether anyone or a group had approached the GM about this.

f)        For the HRO to achieve its goals the Animation Team needs to discuss with Parish Priests. The Chairman should bring this up in discussion with the Archbishop.

Other comments included:-

-         The need to bring up vital social issues linked with the family at Sunday Masses.

-         There is a need to discuss with the Rector of the Major Seminary the possibility of talking to seminarians on some social justice issues.

-         Continue conscientizing other societies in the Parishes on Justice and Peace.

g)      Rev. Sr. Elizabeth Stella’s Case Brought by Barr. Deshi – In September 1989 this nun from Eastern Region of Nigeria had taken up a teaching appointment with Plateau State Government and had been working at the College of Education, Akwanga for sometime. The Government was enquiring into the case apparently to change the terms of appointment from tenure to contract, which would most probably lead to retrenchment.

Barr. Deshi was commended for bringing up the case, which would be taken up by the legal team.

h)      Sr. Freddie wanted to know where to take the problem of three female prisoners and she was advised to take it to the legal team.

7. CLOSING – At 6.38pm. Barr. Obende said the closing prayer after which the usual greetings were exchanged.

Chairman                                                                                  Secretary