The Nigerian National Human Rights Commission, a MacArthur grantee, has gone from a semi-governmental organization to an autonomous one, after President Goodluck Jonathan signed an amendment to the Act that set up the body. The Commission is now empowered to institute any civil action on any matter it deems fit and to publish reports on the state of human rights promotion and protections. Among other significant changes are financial autonomy, the power to determine staff conditions of service, a simpler approval process for members, and indemnification for its officers. Two past executive directors of the Commission were removed from office by the Justice Ministry for criticizing publicly the government's human rights record.
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