Types of Human Rights of a Citizen – JSS1 Civic Education Lesson Note (Second Term)

There are three types of human rights of a Nigerian citizen: civic (individual) rights, economic rights and political rights.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define human rights and name the three basic categories of human rights of a Nigerian citizen;
2. explain civic rights and list five examples;
3. explain economic rights and list five examples;
4. explain political rights and list the rights of the accused given in this note;
5. state the difference between the three categories of rights.

What are human rights?

Human rights are the basic freedoms and privileges that every person is entitled to simply because he or she is a human being.

• Source: in Nigeria, they are protected by the 1999 Constitution (Chapter IV, on fundamental rights).
• Purpose: they protect people from unfair treatment and help them live in dignity.
• Limit: every right comes with a duty to respect the rights of other people.

What are the types of human rights of a citizen?

The rights of Nigerian citizens are classified into three basic categories.

1. Civic (individual) rights: rights that help citizens live decent, comfortable lives.
2. Economic rights: rights to a profitable means of livelihood.
3. Political rights: rights that concern fairness in law and the way citizens take part in government.

What are civic rights?

Civic rights are the human rights that every person enjoys as a resident of the country.

• They are created and protected by the state for its citizens.
• They enable citizens to live decent, comfortable lives.
• They improve the relationships of citizens in the community.

What are examples of civic rights?

1. Right to life: nobody may be killed or have their life taken unlawfully.
2. Right to liberty: nobody may be arrested or detained without a lawful reason.
3. Right to privacy and family life: a person’s home, letters and telephone conversations are protected.
4. Right to the dignity of human person: nobody may be tortured, enslaved or treated in an inhuman way.
5. Right to fair hearing and judgment: every person is given a fair chance to state his or her case before a court.

What are economic rights?

Economic rights are the rights of citizens to be engaged in a profitable means of livelihood.

• They help citizens earn a living and support themselves and their families.

What are examples of economic rights?

1. Right to an adequate standard of living: a citizen should be able to afford food, clothing and shelter.
2. Right to free choice of employment without discrimination: a citizen may take any lawful job, whatever his or her tribe, religion or sex.
3. Right to protection against unemployment: the government should work to provide jobs and support for jobless citizens.
4. Right to join and form trade unions: workers may organise to protect their interests, as in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).
5. Right to free elementary education and health care: basic schooling and medical care should be available to all citizens.

What are political rights?

Political rights are the rights that specify the natural justice of fairness in law.

• They include the rights of the accused.
• They also include the rights that let citizens take part in choosing their leaders.

What are the rights of the accused?

An accused person is someone charged with an offence but not yet proved guilty.

1. Right to fair trial: the case is heard openly and fairly by a court or impartial tribunal.
2. Right to due process: the law must be followed properly at every stage, from arrest to judgment.
3. Right to seek redress or legal remedy: a person whose rights are violated may go to court for justice.

What are other examples of political rights?

• Right to vote: a citizen of voting age may choose leaders in an election.
• Right to be voted for: a qualified citizen may contest for a public office.
• Right to join a political party: a citizen may belong to a party of his or her choice.

What is the difference between civic, economic and political rights?

Evaluation

1. Name the three basic categories of human rights of a Nigerian citizen.
2. What are civic rights?
3. List five civic rights.
4. What are economic rights?
5. List five economic rights.

Assignment

List the rights of the accused given in this note and state the category of human rights they belong to in the note.