ABSTRACT
The Right to freedom from discrimination is a Fundamental Human Right world over, of which Nigeria is subscribed to observe in her laws as a democratic and civilized state. This freedom from any form of deprivation or stigmatization based on sex, religion, ethnicity, circumstances of birth, political opinion and other such related bases is protected in Nigeria’s Constitution, various state provisions and policy documents and International pacts. However, the reality in practice in the country today portrays a wide drift from the provisions of the law in such aspects as political appointments, trade and business ease, work modalities, Farmer-Herder relations and attendant crisis, state of origin, Indigene-Settler question, Quota system practice, and such other manifestations of different levels of discrimination. Also in issue is the contradiction of some state practices and federal policies against the constitution and perhaps, the constitution against itself.
This work employs the primary sources of law and secondary data collection and the methodology of black letter law in examining the value of the Right to freedom from Discrimination based on gender, ethnicity and religion, indigeneship factor in Nigeria today with findings that these rights are virtually just in theory and largely observed in breach, negatively affecting peaceful coexistence and development of the country. It therefore recommends the amendment of constitutional provisions for clarification, redraft of state laws and policy practice documents; compensation and reconciliation over discriminatory practices; punishment and political will to enforce compliance against breach of this right; a National reorientation and improvement on the justice delivery system and indeed general governance system in other to restore confidence to the Nigerian society.
